Wednesday August 27 / Sept 9 ns 2026 - Fast Day • St. Poimén; Holy Martyr Phanoúrios the Newly-Revealed; St. Cæsarius, Bishop of Arles - The Lord Himself will teach us how to pray by Saint Porphyrios - WHY THE PARAGO

Lest we forget,

He lived His life with us

Suddenly the Judge will come.

Will He recognize you without your wedding garment?

Many are called but few chosen

Wednesday

August 27

September 9 new style

2026

Fast Day

We commemorate and honor today

Saint Poimén

The Holy Martyr Phanoúrios

the Newly-Revealed

St. Cæsarius, Bishop of Arles

Poimen was an Egyptian by birth and a great ascetic of Egypt. As a boy, he visited the most renowned spiritual men and, from them, gathered tangible knowledge as a bee gathers honey from flowers. Poimen once begged the elder Paul to take him to St. Paisios. Seeing Poimen, Paisios said to Paul: "This child will save many; the hand of God is with him." In time, Poimen was tonsured a monk and attracted two of his brothers to the monastic life as well. Once his mother came to see her sons but Poimen did not permit her to enter but through the door asked her: "Do you desire more to see us here or there in eternity?" The mother withdrew with joy saying: "Since I will surely see you there, then I do not desire to see you here." In the monastery of these three brothers, governed by Abba Anubis, Poimen's eldest brother, this was their Rule [Typikon]: at night, they spent four hours of working with their hands, four hours of sleep and four hours of reading the Psalter. During the day, from morning until noon, they spent in alternating work and prayer; from noon until Vespers they spent reading and, in the afternoon, they prepared supper for themselves the only meal in twenty-four hours and that usually consisted of some vegetables. Concerning their life, Poimen himself speaks: "We ate that which was given to us. No one ever said: 'Give me something else or I do not want that.' In this manner, we spent our entire life in silence and peace." Poimen lived a life of mortification as an ascetic in the fifth century and died peacefully at an old age.

Holy Martyr Phanoúrios

 St. Cæsarius, Bishop of Arles

Galatians 3:15-22
King James Version

15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.

19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.


Saint Mark 6:7-13
King James Version

7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:

9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

10 And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.

11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

The Lord Himself will teach us

how to pray

by Saint Porphyrios of

Holy Trinity Monastery
Kafsokalyvia, Mount Athos

“Our Faith is perfectly and profoundly conceived. What is simple is also what is most precious. Accordingly, in your spiritual life engage in your daily contest simply, easily, and without force. The soul is sanctified and purified through the study of the Fathers, through the memorization of the psalms and of portions of Scripture, through the signing of hymns and through the repetition of the Jesus Prayer.

“The Lord Himself will teach us how to pray. We won’t learn prayer on our own, nor will anyone else teach us it. Don’t let’s say to ourselves, ‘I have made such -and-such a number of prostrations, so now I have secured divine grace,’ but rather let us make entreaty for the pure light of divine knowledge to shine within us and open our spiritual eyes so that we may understand His divine words.

In this way, without realizing it, we love God without contorting ourselves and without exertion and struggle. What is difficult for man is easy for God. We will love God suddenly when grace overshadows us. If we love Christ very much, the prayer will say itself. Christ will be continually in our mind and in our heart.”

Devote your efforts, therefore, to these spiritual things and ignore all the other things.”

WHY THE

The Holy Orthodox fathers and mothers consider it essential that preparation be made to create a spiritual climate for the mind and the heart before initiating daily prayer. This may be accomplished by reading the Holy Scripture and the lives and writings of the saints.  Again, before the commencement of prayer.

The Paragon was created to facilitate access. This is especially helpful when one must arrive early at work and wishes to begin the day with the blessings of the Holy Trinity, the Most Holy Immaculate Virgin, and the saints throughout the day.   

And there’s more. All the writings, whether epistles, gospels, homilies or simple quotes, all navigate the aspirant with love and in various ways but to the same source - Eternal Life - Paradise.  If that is your objective, {for many are called but few chosen} then a firm commitment will expedite your journey and exponentially increase rewards (the essential wedding garment and more) along the way. 

Glory to God!