The Morning Offering

Living the evangelical life of Orthodox monasticism in witness to the salvific truth of the Gospels of Our Lord, God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever!

The Morning Offering
Tuesday, October 13 / September 30 (Church Calendar)

Saints of the Day:

September 30 / October 13. Hieromartyr Gregory, Bishop of Greater Armenia [I Cor 16:13-24; Matt 24:42-47]. Martyrs Rhipsima and Gaiana and companions of Armenia. St. Michael, first Metropolitan of Kiev. St. Gregory, abbot of Pelshme, Wonderworker of Vologda. St. Michael, prince of Tver. New-Martyr Priest Nicholas Zagorovsky Seraphim in monasticism) (1943). (Greek Calendar: Martyr Stratonicus. Martyr Mardonius.) Repose of Archimandrite Gerasim of Alaska (1969).

Photo of the Day:

Bishop Theodosy, blessing the faithful with the Kursk-Root Icon. (click to enlarge)

Thought for the Day:

The holy brotherhood was greatly blessed by the visitation of the holiest of the Russian Diaspora icons, the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God. Over fifty pilgrims from as far away as Eastern Washington, many coming for the whole day, joined the monks in this glorious opportunity to pray before, and venerate the famous Kursk-Root Icon. The monastery was the very first place, according to Bishop Theodosy, to be able to receive the icon, since it's return from a major pilgrimage to Russia, where huge crowds turned out to see the icon carried in long processions, from town to town. Hundreds of thousands came out, many standing in long lines all night, to be able to venerate the Icon. Given that, it is all the more a wonder to me, that we should be blessed to receive this very icon into the the monastery's temple, dedicated to the Protection of the Holy Virgin. I was also blessed to carry the holy icon throughout the monastic enclosure, blessing all the cells, and the Metropolitan Laurus Memorial Library. Those precious moments, when I held aloft the icon, blessing each room in all the buildings, will remain with me forever.
Love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

Scripture Readings for the Day:

Philippians 1:8-14

⁸ For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
⁹ And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, ¹¹ being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Christ Is Preached

¹² But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, ¹³ so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; ¹⁴ and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Luke 5:12-16

Jesus Cleanses a Leper

¹² And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."
¹³ Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately the leprosy left him. ¹⁴ And He charged him to tell no one, "But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded."
¹⁵ However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. ¹⁶ So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.