How often is there cause to say: Thank you Abba?
Saturday
July 5 /18 ns
2026
St. Athanásios the Athonite
St. Lampadós
Finding of the Relics of
St. Sergios of Rádonezh
St. Elizabeth the
Grand Duchess of Russia
Athanásios was born in Trebizond of God-fearing parents. He became orphaned at an early age but, by the Providence of God, a commander took him under his care and brought him to Constantinople to be educated. Because of his meekness and humbleness, he was the favorite of his peers. During the children's games, the children chose one to be an emperor, one a commander and Athanásios as abbot as though it was some kind of foretelling!
Having completed his education, Athanásios (who before tonsuring was called Abraham) withdrew into the desert of Maleinos near Athos, the Holy Mountain , where he lived the life of an ascetic as a disciple of the then renowned Michael Maleinos.
Desiring a more difficult life of mortification, Athanásios settled on the Holy Mountain Athos to live in silence. But many who were desirous of a life of asceticism began to gather around him and, therefore, he was compelled to build his famous Lavra [monastery]. In that, he was assisted by the Byzantine emperors: at first, Nicephorus Phocas, who himself thought to withdraw and to become a monk and, after him, John Tzimiskes.
Countless temptations befell Athanásios both from demons and from men but he, as a brave soldier of Christ, resisted and conquered all by his immeasurable meekness and continual prayer to the Living God. Filled with the Grace of God, Athanásios was made worthy to see the All-holy Birth-giver of God who miraculously brought forth water from a rock and promised that she would also be the abbess [Ikonomisa, the one in charge of the provisions of the monastery].
In work and in prayer, Athanásios surpassed his brethren and loved all with the love a spiritual father and shepherd.
Death came to Athanásios unexpectedly. At one time, he with six other monks, climbed upon a newly built vestibule of the church to inspect the wall which was being constructed and the wall caved in on them and buried them. Thus, this great beacon of monasticism died in the year 980 A.D. Many times following his death Athanásios appeared to his brethren either to comfort them or to reprimand them.
Having completed his education, Athanásios (who before tonsuring was called Abraham) withdrew into the desert of Maleinos near Athos, the Holy Mountain , where he lived the life of an ascetic as a disciple of the then renowned Michael Maleinos.
Desiring a more difficult life of mortification, Athanásios settled on the Holy Mountain Athos to live in silence. But many who were desirous of a life of asceticism began to gather around him and, therefore, he was compelled to build his famous Lavra [monastery]. In that, he was assisted by the Byzantine emperors: at first, Nicephorus Phocas, who himself thought to withdraw and to become a monk and, after him, John Tzimiskes.
Countless temptations befell Athanásios both from demons and from men but he, as a brave soldier of Christ, resisted and conquered all by his immeasurable meekness and continual prayer to the Living God. Filled with the Grace of God, Athanásios was made worthy to see the All-holy Birth-giver of God who miraculously brought forth water from a rock and promised that she would also be the abbess [Ikonomisa, the one in charge of the provisions of the monastery].
In work and in prayer, Athanásios surpassed his brethren and loved all with the love a spiritual father and shepherd.
Death came to Athanásios unexpectedly. At one time, he with six other monks, climbed upon a newly built vestibule of the church to inspect the wall which was being constructed and the wall caved in on them and buried them. Thus, this great beacon of monasticism died in the year 980 A.D. Many times following his death Athanásios appeared to his brethren either to comfort them or to reprimand them.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
6 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Saint Luke 6:17-23 KJV
17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;
18 And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.
19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.
20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
How the Holy Prophet Moses
and the Holy Apostle Paul
felt about their neighbors
'If Thou will forgive their sins, forgive; but if not, blot me as well out of the book of life which Thou hast written’ (Exod. 32:32);
While St Paul said, ‘For I could wish that I myself were severed from Christ for the sake of my brethren (Rom. 9:3).
He prayed, that is to say, that he should perish in order that others might be saved - and these others were the Israelites who were seeking to kill him.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Saint John 15:12-14 KJV
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Saint Matthew 22:36-40 KJV
If we receive the least among us, we receive God.
After giving a pittance to a beggar asking for money, he asked the following: "Where is God?" I responded that I would tell him if he answers my question first. He piously agreed, so I asked him: "Where isn't God?" He smiled and said: Thank you.
Yes, these two were right outside the window in the backyard.
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