Considered essential by the saints, preparation should be made to create a spiritual climate for the mind and the heart before initiating daily prayer by reading and reflecting on the Holy Scripture, the lives and the God-given writings of the Saints.
To provide and facilitate access the PARAGON was created.
To provide and facilitate access the PARAGON was created.
Saturday
June 21 / July 4 ns 2026
H O L Y A P O S T L E S
F A S T
F i s h, W i n e & O l i v e O i l
permitted today
Holy Martyr Julian of Tarsus
The holy martyr Julian was of noble and senatorial origin. He lived in Tarsus in Cilicia and suffered during the reign of Diocletian. Even though he was only eighteen years of age when he was subjected to torture for the Faith, St. Julian was sufficiently educated and strengthened in Christian piety. The imperial deputy led him from town to town for an entire year torturing him and all the time trying to persuade him to deny Christ. Julian's mother followed her son from a distance. When the deputy seized Julian's mother and sent her to counsel her son to deny Christ, for three days in prison she spoke the opposite advice, teaching him and encouraging him not to despair in spirit but with thanksgiving and courage go to his death. The torturers then sewed Julian in a sack with sand, scorpions and serpents and tossed the sack into the sea and Julian's mother also died under torture. His relics were tossed by the waves to the shore and the faithful translated them to Alexandria and honorably buried them in the year 290 A.D. Later, St. Julian's relics were translated to Antioch. Later on, St. John Chrysostomos, himself, delivered a eulogy [an oration of praise] for the holy martyr Julian. St. John Chrysostomos said: "From the mouth of the martyr proceeded a holy voice and, together with the voice, a light emanated brighter than the rays of the sun." Further, he added: "Take anyone, be it a madman or one possessed, and bring him to the grave of this saint where the relics of the martyr repose and you will see how he [the demon] without fail will leap out and flee as from a burning fire." It is obvious from these words how numerous miracles must have taken place at the grave of St. Julian.
Romans 8:14-21
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Saint Matthew 9:9-13 KJV
9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
The Explanation of the Holy Gospel of
St. Matthew 9:9-13
St. Matthew 9:9-13
by Blessed Theophylact of Ochrid
He did not call Matthew together with Peter and John, but when he knew that he would obey He likewise called Paul later, when it was time. Marvel that Matthew is converted by word alone is the work of God.
Joyful because he had received Christ into his house Matthew invited the publicans. Christ ate with them so that He might benefit them also, even though He was criticized for doing it. For this Pharisees wanted to separate his disciples from Him, and so they slandered Him for eating with publicans.
He says I have not come now as judge but as physician, and for this reason I endure stench and filth. He also rebukes them for being ignorant when He says go ye and learn this means, since up to the present time you have not managed to learn so at least from this time on go and learn that God prefers mercy towards sinners above any sacrifice. The words I am not come to call the righteous he spoke ironically that is I have not come to call you consider yourselves to be righteous but I have come to call sinners. I do this not so that they remain sinners, but in order for them to repent.
For Consideration: Resistance
Having experienced and thereby knowing full well the awesome power of desire, consider then the measure of recompense we may be granted by resisting it?
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