Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.
Thursday
October 24
Nov. 6 new style
2025
Holy Martyr Aréthas
and those with him;
St. Elesbaán, King of Ethiopia
Dunaan, a cruel Jewish persecutor of Christians, then governed Omir. Determined to eradicate all Christians from his land, he surrounded the Christian town of Nagran, and sent a message to the people saying he would put them all to death unless they renounced Christ. The citizens closed the gates, and Dunaan attacked the city wall for a long time without success. Then the iniquitous governor swore to the citizens that he would do nothing to them, if only they would open the gate for him to enter and receive the tribute that they owed him-and that he would take it and immediately withdraw. The Christians believed him and opened the gate. Then the oath-breaking Jew summoned the aged Aréthas, the clergy and other distinguished citizens and beheaded them all with the sword. He then perpetrated a horrible slaughter in the town. Learning of this, the Byzantine Emperor Justin was greatly grieved, and wrote a letter to the Ethiopian Emperor, Elesbaán, requesting him to set out with an army against Dunaan to avenge the innocent blood of the Christians. Elesbaán obeyed Justin, attacked the governor of Omir with his army, defeated him, slew his entire army, and beheaded him.
By a revelation from God, a certain devout man named Abramios was installed as governor of Omir, and again by God's revelation, St. Gregory of Omir (December 19) was installed as archbishop. Christians rebuilt the Church of the Holy Trinity in Nagran that Dunaan had burned, and also built a church to the Holy Martyr Aréthas and the other martyrs of Nagran. St. Aréthas and the others suffered and received martyr's wreaths from the Lord in the year 523.
Colossians 4:2-9
King James Version
2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:
4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord:
8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;
9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.
Saint Luke 11:14-23
King James Version
14 And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.
15 But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
16 And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.
17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
Joy
as the fruit of the Holy Spirit
Saint Nektarios of Pentapolis
Joy! An enduring word, a coveted word, a word that stirs the human soul, a word that declares exultation, a word that signifies gladness, a word that expresses spiritual delight! Oh joy! What words can I use to describe the feeling you arouse in the heart? With what color shall I paint your picture? What form of speech can I use to adequately express your mystical character? No power of mine can inquire into this mystery joy remains mystical, hidden in the depths of the heart and reveals itself only to the soul. Joy makes the soul leap for joy with gladness and exultation It intoxicates the soul like a divine elixir it becomes the soul's coveted treat. More than honey. No voice can communicate your activity.
Joy remains mystical, hidden in the depths of the heart and reveals itself only to the soul. Joy makes the soul leap for joy with gladness and exaltation. It intoxicates the soul like a Divine elixir. It becomes the soul's coveted treat. More than honey and the honeycomb it sweetens the tongue, when the soul overflows with joy. Joy smoothly composes hymns within the heart, which the lips strain to express---the heart speaks, the lips keep silent, It is a supernatural mystical liturgy.
The heart rejoices because God's love dwells within it. The heart rejoices because it senses itself filled with the goodness it so desires.
The heart rejoices because it receives the mystical assurance that God loves it.
The heart rejoices because love, calm, peace and tranquility reign within it.
The heart rejoices because by faith it has come to know the Lord.
The heart rejoices because through hope it has revealed the good things to come.
The heart rejoices because it knows through love the Lord dwells within it.
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