Sunday
July 10, 2011 / June 27, 2011
4th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone three.
Apostles' Fast. Fish Allowed
Apostles' Fast. Fish Allowed
Hieromartirs Neophytus, Jonah, Neophytus, Jonah, and Parthenius of Lampsacus (movable holiday on the 1st Sunday after June 27th).
Synaxis of All Saints of Pskov-Pechers (movable holiday on the 4th Sunday of Pentecost).Venerable Sampson the Hospitable of Constantinople (530).St. Joanna the Myrrh-bearer (1st c.).
New Hieromartyr Priest Gregory Nikolsky of Kuban (1918).New Hieromartyrs Alexander and Vladimir priests (1918).New Hieromartyr Peter priest (1939).Uncovering of the holy relics of Optina Elders: Ambrose, Leonid, Macarius, Anatole I, Anatole II, Barsanuphius, Hilarion (1998).Venerable Serapion of Kozha Lake (1611).Venerable Severus, presbyter of Interocrea in Italy (6th c.).Venerable George of the Holy Mountain and Georgia (1066) (Georgia).Venerable Martin of Turov (1146).Commemoration of the victory of the Russian Army of the Battle of Poltava on June 27, 1709.Martyr Anectus of Caesarea in Cappadocia (304). Hieromartyr Pierius, presbyter of Antioch (Greek).St. Luke the hermit (Greek).Matryrs Mark and Marcia (Greek).New Hieromartyr Kirion II, catholicos-patriarch of Georgia (1918) (Georgia).Hieromartyrs Crescens, Maximus, and Theonest, bishops of Mainz (Germany) (5th c.).Words from the Abbot:
Captain Sean Levine, the Orthodox Army chaplain assigned to Fort Lewis, spent two days in retreat with us this week. Wonderful young man. It is hard for me to comprehend that I am the same age as the father of an army chaplain, but the years do keep marching on.
Having Father Sean with us reminded me of the obligation we have as a nation to honor, respect and support our troops. I recently read a sad story of a young military man who was traveling by train, here in the United States. As the train pulled into a station the young officer saw a number of men sporting military weapons running past the train. With his training kicking in, the army man yelled out for other passengers to fall to to floor, while he ran toward the front of the train.
The soldier was not aware he'd just witnessed a filming for a Hollywood movie. Responding to the screams of the passengers, the military man was shoved up against the wall of the train by a conductor, just as police arrived. He explain he was simply trying to protect fellow passengers from a perceived threat, just as his extensive training had prepared him to do so. He managed to talk his way into remaining on the train. In the interview he shared his pain and embarrassment as other passengers shunned him for the duration of the trip.
When reading his account I wanted to weep. I found myself wishing I'd been on that train and had witnessed his gallantry and could have invited him to the club car and bought him a beer. It would have given me great joy to have become his friend at that moment in time.
Throughout my lifetime I can not remember a war that has been popular. Most of the wars we've been engaged in during these many years have proved to be disastrous for the United States. The present war in the Middle East is no exception, in my opinion. I don't believe we should be there, but I do support our troops. These fine young men and women have put their lives on the line for our country and deserve our support and respect.
Finally, when our young soldiers (young enough to be my grandchildren) return State side, we need to tend to their wounds, both physical, mental and spiritual. We need to hire them for jobs so they can rebuild their lives. We need to encourage them to talk about their experiences so as to enable them to live with the horror they witnessed and the tremendous sense of loss they feel, having seen their friends killed in battle. We need to love them.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Photo of the Day:Having Father Sean with us reminded me of the obligation we have as a nation to honor, respect and support our troops. I recently read a sad story of a young military man who was traveling by train, here in the United States. As the train pulled into a station the young officer saw a number of men sporting military weapons running past the train. With his training kicking in, the army man yelled out for other passengers to fall to to floor, while he ran toward the front of the train.
The soldier was not aware he'd just witnessed a filming for a Hollywood movie. Responding to the screams of the passengers, the military man was shoved up against the wall of the train by a conductor, just as police arrived. He explain he was simply trying to protect fellow passengers from a perceived threat, just as his extensive training had prepared him to do so. He managed to talk his way into remaining on the train. In the interview he shared his pain and embarrassment as other passengers shunned him for the duration of the trip.
When reading his account I wanted to weep. I found myself wishing I'd been on that train and had witnessed his gallantry and could have invited him to the club car and bought him a beer. It would have given me great joy to have become his friend at that moment in time.
Throughout my lifetime I can not remember a war that has been popular. Most of the wars we've been engaged in during these many years have proved to be disastrous for the United States. The present war in the Middle East is no exception, in my opinion. I don't believe we should be there, but I do support our troops. These fine young men and women have put their lives on the line for our country and deserve our support and respect.
Finally, when our young soldiers (young enough to be my grandchildren) return State side, we need to tend to their wounds, both physical, mental and spiritual. We need to hire them for jobs so they can rebuild their lives. We need to encourage them to talk about their experiences so as to enable them to live with the horror they witnessed and the tremendous sense of loss they feel, having seen their friends killed in battle. We need to love them.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
Captain Sean Levine, Orthodox Army chaplain from Fort Lewis, spent two days in retreat at the monastery.
Scripture Readings for the Day:
Romans 6:18-23
18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Matthew 8:5-13
Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant
7 And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
8 The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
Click photo to enlarge.
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