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

Thursday, June 24 / 11 (Church Calendar)

Saints of the Day:

June 11 / 24. Holy Apostles Bartholomew and Barnabas. Opening of the Relics of St. Ephraim, abbot of Novotorzhk. St. Barnabas, abbot of Vetluga. Translation of the Relics of St. Arcadius, monk of Vyazma and Novotorzhk. Commemoration of the appearance of Archangel Gabriel to a monk on Mt. Athos, and the reveleation of the hymn 'It is truly meet' (Axion estin). (Greek Calendar: Martyr Theopemptus and four others.) Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos 'Axion Estin'. Repose of Righteous recluse Melania of Eletz and Zadonsk (1836).

Photo of the Day:

Monastery from the south.

(click for enlargement)

Quote of the Day:

"God does not come near to where flesh is in charge: God's contact with man is through his spirit, and the spirit in such a person is out of its proper order. He will feel God's calling for the first time when his spirit begins to claim its rights in the voice of conscience and the fear of God. And when a man finally makes his free deliberate choice for the spirit, then God will join that man and dwell in him. From that moment on begins the conversion of his soul and body, the whole inner and outer man, until "God may be all in all" (1 Cor. 15:28), and the man which once was carnal, transforms into a spiritual being and becomes sanctified. What a marvelous privilege of mankind, and how few of us know about it, appreciate it and seek it!"

St. Theophan the Recluse

Scripture Readings for the Day:

Romans 15:17-29

¹⁷ Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. ¹⁸ For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— ¹⁹ in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. ²⁰ And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation, ²¹ but as it is written:


      " To whom He was not announced, they shall see;
      And those who have not heard shall understand."

Plan to Visit Rome

²² For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. ²³ But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, ²⁴ whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. ²⁵ But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. ²⁶ For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. ²⁷ It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. ²⁸ Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. ²⁹ But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

Matthew 12:46-13:3

Jesus' Mother and Brothers Send for Him

⁴⁶ While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him. ⁴⁷ Then one said to Him, "Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You."
⁴⁸ But He answered and said to the one who told Him, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?" ⁴⁹ And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, "Here are My mother and My brothers! ⁵⁰ For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother."

Matthew 13

The Parable of the Sower

 ¹ On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. ² And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
³ Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow.