29
Nov 2023
DAILY REFLECTION • SEPTEMBER 10 • Martyrs Menodora, Metrodora, and Nymphodora, at Nicomedia REFLECTION Examples of courage and patience displayed by martyred Christian women-thousands upon thousands of them-have shone with radiant glory on all the pages of the history of the Christian Church. However, as amazing as these examples of voluntary martyrs are, the examples of ascetics, known and unknown, are not a bit less amazing, for asceticism is nothing less than prolonged martyrdom. Paul, the Bishop of Monemvasia, has given to posterity an instructive example of women ascetics. While he was......
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29
Nov 2023
DAILY REFLECTION • SEPTEMBER 11 • Venerable Theodora of Alexandria REFLECTION One must not hinder anyone on the path of perfect devotion and service to God. Many saintly women who wanted to flee from marriage and devote themselves to God were pursued and hindered in this by their husbands. These women were usually victorious in the end, remaining steadfast in their intention, and often awakened the consciences of their husbands by their example, and directed them on the path of salvation. St. Theodora, dressed in men’s clothing, had to carefully hide from......
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29
Nov 2023
DAILY REFLECTION • SEPTEMBER 21 • Apostle Quadratus of the Seventy REFLECTION If only we begin with the firm intention to live according to God’s law, we need not be afraid of any assaults by unreasonable men. For he who truly begins to live according to God’s law finds that all things done to him by men happen for his benefit, and to the glory of God. One especially need not fear being compelled to move from a place that he loves to a place that he doesn’t care for. Instead of......
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29
Nov 2023
DAILY REFLECTION • SEPTEMBER 22 • Hieromartyr Phocas, Bishop of Sinope REFLECTION When a man clearly senses God’s mercy toward him, he is startled, as from a dull and senseless dream, and becomes ashamed of his long blindness to God’s unceasing compassion. In the time of Emperor Justinian, the chief imperial tax collector in Africa was a certain Peter, a very wealthy but very hard and merciless man. The beggars grumbled among themselves, that not one of them had ever received alms from Peter. Then, one of them bet that he would......
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29
Nov 2023
DAILY REFLECTION • SEPTEMBER 23 • Conception of St. John the Baptist REFLECTION He who gives to the poor, gives to Christ. This is the meaning of the evangelical teaching, which was confirmed in the experience of the saints. Peter the Merciful, after he repented, began to give alms to the poor wherever the opportunity presented itself. On one occasion, a shipwrecked man who had barely saved his naked body from the wreck, met Peter and begged him for some clothing. Peter removed his costly dolman and clothed the naked man with......
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29
Nov 2023
DAILY REFLECTION • SEPTEMBER 24 Holy Protomartyr Thecla, Equal-to-the-Apostles • Holy New Martyrs of Alaska REFLECTION Every saint is close to the place where he is invoked for help, or where his sanctity is commemorated and glorified. Those who are clairvoyant see the saints. If those who are not clairvoyant truly believe, they will see them in due time. Even as a young monk, St. Cosmas of Zographou had this gift. Once, on the Feast of the Annunciation, he went with several other monks to the Monastery of Vatopedi for this, their......
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29
Nov 2023
DAILY REFLECTION • SEPTEMBER 25 • Repose of St. Sergius, Abbot and Wonderworker of Radonezh REFLECTION A saint does not shine outwardly. All of his riches are within, in his soul. A peasant came from afar to the monastery to see St. Sergius. When he asked the monks for the abbot, they told him he was working in the garden. The peasant went to the garden, and there saw a man in poor, ragged clothes, digging like any other peasant on a farm. The peasant returned to the monastery dissatisfied, thinking that......
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29
Nov 2023
DAILY REFLECTION • SEPTEMBER 26 • Repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian REFLECTION Thus writes the Apostle James: Let him know, that he who converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins (James 5:20). The apostles of Christ did not simply speak thus, but confirmed it by their work. St. Clement of Alexandria relates that, somewhere in Asia Minor, St. John the Apostle had baptized a pagan youth and entrusted him to the care......
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29
Nov 2023
DAILY REFLECTION • SEPTEMBER 28 • Venerable Chariton the Confessor, Abbot of Palestine REFLECTION In guiding the dispensation of this world, and especially of His Holy Church, God often makes unexpected moves, and changes the evil destiny of His servants to the good. This occurred many times in the life of St. Chariton. Following cruel tortures, Chariton was thrown into prison and was promised certain death. Then, Emperor Aurelian died unexpectedly, and the new emperor freed the Christian captives. Thus, Chariton escaped death. Then, when he was traveling to Jerusalem, robbers seized......
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29
Nov 2023
DAILY REFLECTION • SEPTEMBER 29 • Venerable Cyriacus the Hermit, of Palestine REFLECTION In ignorance, many people labor more to avoid suffering in old age and terminal illness than to avoid the torments of hell in the life after old age and death. Such was the case of an unmarried and avaricious man who, from year to year, and with ever greater passion, amassed for himself unnecessary wealth. When asked why he strove so much to pile up excess wealth he replied: “I am gathering it for my old age. This wealth......
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