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

Friday, February 5 / January 23 (Church Calendar)

Saints of the Day:

 

January 23 / February 5. Hieromartyr Clement, Bishop of Ancyra, and Martyr Agathangelus [Heb 13:7-16; Jn 10:9-16]. St. Paulinus the Merciful, Bishop of Nola. St. Mausimas the Syrian, monk. St. Salamanes the Silent of the Euprates, monk. St. Gennadius of Kostroma, monk. Commemoration of the Sixth Ecumenical Council. St. Eusubius, recluse of Mt. Coryphe near Antioch. Translation of the Relics of St. Theoctistus, Bishop of Novgorod. St. Lupicinus of Lipidiaco (Gaul). Repose of Abbot Damascene of Valaam(1881).

Photo of the Day:

Our monastery temple's onion dome, as seen at dusk.  (click for enlargement)

Quote of the Day:

"Prayer for others is very beneficial to the man himself who prays; it purifies the heart, strengthens faith and hope in God, and arouses love for God and our neighbor."

St. John of Kronstadt

"My Life in Christ"

Scripture Readings for the Day:

2 John 1:1-13

Greeting the Elect Lady

 ¹ The Elder,

To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth, ² because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever:

³ Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

Walk in Christ's Commandments

⁴ I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father. ⁵ And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. ⁶ This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

Beware of Antichrist Deceivers

⁷ For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. ⁸ Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.
⁹ Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. ¹⁰ If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; ¹¹ for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

John's Farewell Greeting

¹² Having many things to write to you, I did not wish to do so with paper and ink; but I hope to come to you and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
¹³ The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.

Mark 15:22

²² And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull.

Mark 15:25

²⁵ Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.

Mark 15:33-41

Jesus Dies on the Cross

³³ Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. ³⁴ And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
³⁵ Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, "Look, He is calling for Elijah!" ³⁶ Then someone ran and filled a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink, saying, "Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to take Him down."
³⁷ And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.
³⁸ Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. ³⁹ So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God!"
⁴⁰ There were also women looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome, ⁴¹ who also followed Him and ministered to Him when He was in Galilee, and many other women who came up with Him to Jerusalem.