FIRST - AN APOLOGY
The Blessing of the Lord
I must apologize. Forgive me. I am very ashamed for neglecting to look at comments and responses to my requests made on the PARAGON. My excuse is so lame I won't even offer it. However, checking them, my shame was increased at the utter shock at how many responses and comments have accumulated, and so, so many of them very worthy of emulation.
The saint and martyrs gave us their strength, their love, their devotion to our Creator and God, through their sacrifice and their lives (the martyrs) and their words. And they gave food to a starving people, the kind of food that freely nourishes eternally, both the recipient and the giver! And second to our Lord's gifts, who can describe the satisfaction that comes with witnessing the souls of others being nourished?
Again, forgive me and thank you - thank you, all of you readers. May our Lord reward you in excess.
Fr. Raphael
Most rightly we confess thee as our God’s Birthgiver, we who through thee have been saved, O thou Virgin most pure; with choirs of Bodiless Angels, thee do we magnify.
Why the highlight? Scroll to the bottom of the page
Today we commemorate
The Holy Hieromartyr Evtychés,
Bishop of Melitené;
St. Andrew the Fool for Christ
~ No Fasting all week ~
Evtychés was one of the lesser apostles and was born in Sebastopol. He was a disciple and imitator of the Apostle John the Theologian and the Apostle Paul. Even though he is not numbered among the seventy apostles, nevertheless, he is called an apostle because he was a disciple of the great apostles and, because in his evangelical service, he displayed true apostolic zeal.
Consecrated a missionary bishop, St. Eutyches traveled much, having, an angel as his companion. In prison, he received heavenly bread from an angel. When his body was scrapped with a serrated iron rod, blood flowed from him with unusual fragrant myrrh. He was thrown into a fire and before wild beasts and finally beheaded with a sword in Sebastopol.
Romans 1:1-7, 13-17 KJV
1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)
3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
13 Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.
14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Saint Matthew 4:23-5:13 KJV
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
5 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Just discovered above our front door
Neighbors
Highlight
To those who have noticed in the Small Canon to the Theotokos (Paraklesis) and of other references, our Holy Mother is called on to save us. As right-believing Christians, we know the Mother of God, although immeasurably loved, cannot save. Yet the reference is there in the quote. Anyone who knows the virtue and character of the daughters of Eve, knows the unfailing and all forgiving nature of womankind and are thereby very aware the Ever-Virgin's influence on her Son, our Lord. If you require an example read again the Holy Gospel of the wedding in Cana of Galilee.
Do we need a better reason for seeking the aid of the Mother of God when we pray?
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