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
Friday, July 24 / July 11 (Church Calendar)

Saints of the Day:

uly 11 / 24. Great-Martyr Euphemia the All-praised Blessed Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga, princess of Russia, in holy baptism called Helen. (services combined) Hieromartyr Cindeus of Pamphylia. St. Nicodemus of Vatopedi (Mt. Athos). New-Martyr Nicodemus of Mt. Athos. New-Martyr Nectarius of St. Annes Skete (Mt. Athos). (Greek Calendar: St. Leo, monk of Mandra. Martyr Martyrocles.) Repose of cavedweller Anastasia of St. Cornelius of Padan hermitage in Olonets (1901).

Photo of the Day:

The temple, as seen from the southeast. (Click to enlarge)

Quote of the Day:

"Beyond the world, therefore, there is rest, beyond the world there is also the fruit of rest. Then, 'blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God' (Mt. 5:9). For since God is above the world, none can indeed see God, unless he first transcend the world with his spiritual eye. Thus, the seventh blessing is of the peacemakers; seven baskets of fragments remained from the four thousand. This bread of Sabbaths is no ordinary bread, a sanctified bread, a bread of rest."
St. Ambrose of Milan

Scripture Readings for the Day:

1 Corinthians 7:35-8:7

³⁵ And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.
³⁶ But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. ³⁷ Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well. ³⁸ So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.
³⁹ A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. ⁴⁰ But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 8

Be Sensitive to Conscience

 ¹ Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. ² And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. ³ But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him.
⁴ Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. ⁵ For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), ⁶ yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
⁷ However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

Matthew 15:29-31

Jesus Heals Great Multitudes

²⁹ Jesus departed from there, skirted the Sea of Galilee, and went up on the mountain and sat down there. ³⁰ Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and He healed them. ³¹ So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.