The Morning Offering

Today is the Feast of Saint Herman of Alaska, according to the Julian Calendar. Since our celebration of Christ's Holy Nativity, is on January 7th, I will be leaving for Harborview Medical Center, in Seattle, following today's Liturgy, in order to allow the other chaplains to be with their families for Western Christmas. Please remember the family of the Deputy Kent Mundell, who is on life support, and not expected to live. His family will be spending their Christmas with him, at his bedside. I'll be there to give spiritual and moral support to the family, and the police officers who will be stopping by to show their solidarity and support. I'm about at the end of my own endurance, and ask your prayers, that the Lord give me the strength to be strong for these suffering people. Please, also remember my friend, Sheriff Paul Pastor, who is a strong Christian, and who is suffering greatly.

With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory to Him forever!

The Morning Offering
Friday, December 25 / 12 (Church Calendar)
Feast of Saint Herman of Alaska
 
Saints of the Day:

December 12 / 25. St. Spyridon (Spiridon) the Wonderworker of Tremithon. St. Herman of Alaska; Hieromartyr Juvenal; Martyr Peter the Aleut; New-Martyr Anatole of Irkutsk and Seraphim of Uglich. Hieromartyr Alexander, Bishop of Jerusalem; MartyrSynesius (Razumnik) of Rome. St. Therapontes, abbot of Monza. Greek Calendar: Saints Amonathus and Anthus, monks. St.John, Metropolitan of Zichon, founder of the Monastery of the Forerunner on Mt. Menikion. Desert-dweller Flegont of Maksha River,Penza.

Photo of the Day:

Icon of Saint Herman of Alaska

(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Thought for the Day:

 

SAINT HERMAN OF ALASKA, the first "American" saint, was the first to bring Orthodoxy to this continent. He came to America as a young monk in 1794 as part of the original Russian Orthodox mission to Alaska. He lived there until his repose, and for more than four decades taught the natives by word and example. With his own severe asceticism a secret, he ministered to both physical and spiritual needs of the people. And his memory is preserved, fresh and personal, among their descendants to this day. Ironically, however, he is unknown to so many other Americans. By his prayers may we, also, truly receive the Gospel he brought and follow the way that he taught.

Scripture Readings for the Day:

Hebrews 7:18-25

¹⁸ For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, ¹⁹ for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is thebringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

Greatness of the New Priest

   
²⁰ And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath ²¹ (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him:


      " The LORD has sworn
      And will not relent,

      ' You are a priest forever
      According to the order of Melchizedek'"),

    ²² by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.
²³ Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. ²⁴ But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. ²⁵ Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Luke 21:37-22:8

³⁷ And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. ³⁸ Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

Luke 22

The Plot to Kill Jesus

 ¹ Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. ² And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.
³ Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. ⁴ So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. ⁵ And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. ⁶ So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

Jesus and His Disciples Prepare the Passover

⁷ Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. ⁸ And He sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat."