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, August 2 / July 20 (Church Calendar)
Prophet Elijah, Patron of Aviators

Saints of the Day:

July 20 / August 2. Holy Glorious Prophet Elias (Elijah St. Abramius of Galich or Chukhloma Lake, disciple of St. Sergius of Radonezh. Opening of the Relics of St. Athanasius, abbot of Brest-Litovsk. New-Martyr Lydia, and with her the soldiers Alexei and Cyril (1928) Priest Philosoph Ornalsky and those with him (1918). Repose of Righteous Priest Valentine (Amphiteatrov) (1908).

Photo of the Day:

We've made great progress with the monastery's gift shop and offices.  (click to enlarge)

Quote of the Day:

"Fear shows up if ever love departs, for the man with no fear is either filled with love or is dead in spirit."

St. John Climacus

Scripture Readings for the Day:

1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Sectarianism Is Sin

¹⁰ Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. ¹¹ For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. ¹² Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." ¹³ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
¹⁴ I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵ lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. ¹⁶ Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. ¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God

¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Matthew 14:14-22

¹⁴ And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. ¹⁵ When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food."
¹⁶ But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
¹⁷ And they said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."
¹⁸ He said, "Bring them here to Me." ¹⁹ Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. ²⁰ So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. ²¹ Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Jesus Walks on the Sea

²² Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.