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, August 5 / July 23 (Church Calendar)

Saints of the Day:

July 23 / August 5. Martyrs Trophimus, Theophilus, and 13 others in Lycia. Hieromartyr Apollinaris, Bishop of Ravenna. Righteous Anna (Hannah), mother of the Prophet Samuel. Commemoration of the Miraculous Appearance of the Mother of God at Pochaev, which saved the monastery from the assault of the Tatars and Turks (1675). Translation of the Relics of St. Herman (Germanus), Archbishop of Kazan. New-Martyr Nectarius (Trezvinsky), Bishop of Yaransk. (Greek Calendar: Hieromartyr Apollonius, 250 killed by Bulgarians during the reign of Emperor Nicephorus. Eight Martyrs of Carthage. St. Anna of Constantinople.) Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos The Joy of All Who Sorrow (with coins) in Petersburg; Pochaev .

Photo of the Day:

The Byzantine flag, the flag of the Orthodox Church, flies over
the central plaza of our monastery. 
(click to enlarge)

Quote of the Day:

"Don't sit, glued to the television....Guard yourselves from the means of mass blinding."

Elder Epiphanios

Scripture Readings for the Day:

1 Corinthians 13:4-14:5

⁴ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰ But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹² For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 14

Prophecy and Tongues

 ¹ Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. ² For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. ³ But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. ⁴ He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. ⁵ I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

Matthew 20:28-32

²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Two Blind Men Receive Their Sight

 ²⁹ Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. ³⁰ And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!"
³¹ Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!"
³² So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?"