Sunday September 25 / October 8 ns 2023 • St. Evphrosyne, Holy Monk-Martyr Paphnoútios, St. Sergios of Rádonezh ~ IF YOU WANT TO SERVE GOD by Saint Sergios of Radonezh

 Thou didst ascend the cross O Jesus

Thou Who didst descend from heaven

Thou camest unto death O Life Immortal

Thou camest unto those in darkness

Thou Who are the True Light

Thou camest unto the fallen O Resurrection of us all

Our Light and Savior Glory to Thee

Glory to Thee O Our God, Glory to Thee.

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Read from St. Sergios below:

IF YOU WANT TO SERVE GOD

It takes more than your body

↡

Saint Evphrosyne
 Holy Monk-Martyr Paphnoútios, 
St. 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.

Saint John 20:1-10 KJV

20 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher.

2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid him.

3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulcher.

4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulcher.

5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulcher, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, and believed.

9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 KJV

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 5:1-11 KJV

5 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

6 And when they had this done, they caught a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

7 And they beckoned unto the others who were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

If you want to serve God

by Saint Sergios of Radonezh

then prepare your heart not for food, not for drink, not for rest, not for ease, but for suffering, so that you may endure all temptations, trouble and sorrow. Prepare for severities, fasts, spiritual struggles and many afflictions, for “by many afflictions is it appointed to us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Acts 14,22); 

‘The Heavenly Kingdom is taken by force, and the who use force seize it.’ (St. Matt 11:12)