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
Sunday, July 26 / July 13 (Church Calendar)

Saints of the Day:

July 13 / 26. Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Gabriel . St. Stephen of St. Sabbas Monastery. Martyr Serapion. Martyr Marcian of Iconium. St. Julian, Bishop of Cenomanis (LeMans) in Gaul. Virgin Abbess Sarah of Scete in Libya. Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos Axion Estin (It is Truly Meet).

Photo of the Day:

The monastery's lower Valaam Trail. (Click to enlarge)

Quote of the Day:

"...We want not only that you do not get lost, disintegrate and sink in the sea of heterodoxy that surrounds you, but that you yourselves be lamps of the true Faith and unhypocritical Christian piety, in order that those of other faiths, by looking at you, may glorify the Orthodox Faith as the undoubtedly original faith of Christ."

Archbishop Averky of Syracuse - Holy Trinity
"Address to Orthodox youth"

Scripture Readings for the Day:

Romans 15:1-7

Bearing Others' Burdens

 ¹ We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ² Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. ³ For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me." ⁴ For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. ⁵ Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, ⁶ that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Glorify God Together

⁷ Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

Matthew 9:27-35

Two Blind Men Healed

²⁷ When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, "Son of David, have mercy on us!"
²⁸ And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?"
They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."
²⁹ Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you." ³⁰ And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, "See that no one knows it. " ³¹ But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.

A Mute Man Speaks

³² As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. ³³ And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, "It was never seen like this in Israel!"
³⁴ But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the ruler of the demons."

The Compassion of Jesus

³⁵ Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.