The Morning Offering

The Orthodox Church is evangelical, but not Protestant. It is orthodox, but not Jewish. It is catholic, but not Roman. It isn't non-denominational - it is pre-denominational. It has believed, taught, preserved, defended and died for the Faith of the Apostles since the Day of Pentecost 2000 years ago.

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever!

The Morning Offering
Wednesday, July 22 / July 9 (Church Calendar)

Saints of the Day:

July 9 / 22. Hieromartyr Pancratius, Bishop of Taormina in Sicily. Hieromartyr Cyril, Bishop of Gortyna in Crete. St. Theodore, Bishop of Edessa. Martyrs Patermuthius, Coprius, and Alexander the soldier, in Egypt. Saints Patermuthius and Coprius, ascetics of Egypt. St. Euthymius of Karelia. Blessed Peter, Hieromartyr of Cherevkov (Vologda). (Greek Calendar: Martyrs Andrew and Probus. Saints Dionysius the Rhetorician and Metrophanes of Mt. Athos.) Repose of Hierodeacon Melchizedek of the Roslavl forests (1840). Righteous Patermuphy of Valaam and St. Alexander Nevsky Lavra (1840?).

Photo of the Day:

Interior of our temple: the Monastic Church of the Holy Protection of the Mother of God. (Click to enlarge)

Quote of the Day:

We claim that we desire the kingdom of heaven, and yet we neglect those things that ensure we could gain entry there. And although we make no efforts to fulfill the Lord's commands, we still imagine in our foolishness that we will receive the same honors as those who have fought against sin right up to their death. Who has ever stayed at home doing nothing at harvest-time and managed to fill his arms with bundles of corn? Who has ever gathered grapes from the vine he has not planted and worked hard for? Those who have worked receive the fruits, those who are victorious are crowned.
St. Basil the Great

"Gateway to Paradise"

Video of the Day:

Arab Festival 2009: Sharia in the U.S.?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEPod-hxD7g

Scripture Readings for the Day:

1 Corinthians 7:12-24

¹² But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. ¹³ And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. ¹⁵ But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. ¹⁶ For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

Live as You Are Called

¹⁷ But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. ²⁰ Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. ²¹ Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. ²² For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave. ²³ You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. ²⁴ Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

Matthew 13:31-36

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

³¹ Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, ³² which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."

The Parable of the Leaven

³³ Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."

Prophecy and the Parables

³⁴ All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, ³⁵ that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:


      " I will open My mouth in parables;
       I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world."

The Parable of the Tares Explained

³⁶ Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."