Oblate Daily Thursday, January 22, 2014 / January 9, 2014 [East] Afterfeast of Theophany Martyr Plyeuctus of Melitene in Armenia Hieromartyr Philip the wonderworker, metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia St. Eustratius the wonderworker, abbot of Aguares in Bithynia Prophet Shemaiah (Samaia, Semeias; III Kings 12:22) St. Peter, bishop of Sebaste in Armenia, and brother of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory of Nyssa Martyrs Antonina, Nicander, and Zacharias Martyr Panteleimon Repose of St. Jonah (in the schema, Peter), founder of Holy Trinity monastery in Kiev (+1902) Translation of the relics of St. Judoc, hermit of Ponthieu St. Adrian, abbot of Canterbury St. Fillan, abbot of Strathfillan [West] Octave of Theophany Martyrs Julian, abbot; his wife Basilissa, abbess; Anthony, Anastasius; Marcionilla, her child Celsus; and many other martyrs of Antioch Martyrs Revocatus and Firminus, and three others, in Africa Virgin-Martyr Paschasia of Dijon Translation of the relics of St. Judoc, abbot, to Winchester Virgin-Martyr Marciana, in Caesarea St. Marcellinus, bishop St. Adrian, abbot of Canterbury St. Peter, bishop of Sebaste St. Foellan, abbot, in Scotland St. Brithwald, archbishop of Canterbury Martyrs Epictetus, Jucundus, Secundus, Vitalis, Felix, and other martyrs of Africa St. Waningus of Fecampt, abbot St. Ethelmodus the confessor St. Nathalan, bishop, in Aberdeen [SB: Holy Rule] Chapter 2 - What Kind of Man the Abbot Ought to Be The Abbot who is worthy to be over a monastery, ought always to be mindful of what he is called, and make his works square with his name of Superior. For he is believed to hold the place of Christ in the monastery, when he is called by his name, according to the saying of the Apostle: You have received the spirit of adoption of sons, whereby we cry Abba (Father) (Rom 8:15). Therefore, the Abbot should never teach, prescribe, or command (which God forbid) anything contrary to the laws of the Lord; but his commands and teaching should be instilled like a leaven of divine justice into the minds of his disciples. [Lectio Divina] James 4:10 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. [Homily about the concern for the salvation of our neighbors; from the Prologue of Ochrid for Jan. 9] No one should seek his own advantage, but that of his neighbor (I Corinthians 10:24). This is the principle of the saints of God, both now, at one time, always and forever. This is the principle on which society is built. Upon this principle can be established the most perfect, the most God-pleasing and the most prosperous human society. This is the saving principle for every type of difficulty with which contemporary men struggle, struggle without victory and without hope. The holy soul is concerned with where the homeless will spend the night, how the hungry will be fed, how the naked will be clothed. The soul is concerned and prays to God that their neighbors be saved; that their hearts be filled with love toward God; that their minds be directed toward God; that the wicked turn from the path of wickedness; that those wavering in the Faith be strengthened; that those who are strengthened be sustained; that those who have died see the Face of God; that the living be written in the Book of Life in the Kingdom of Light. Therefore, be careful brethren, how even in like manner, word for word, can sound the destructive and antisocial principle of the devil. This principle of the devil says: no one should look at their own body to preserve it in purity from sin, but rather everyone should look at the bodies of others in order to ruin and to destroy them. That no one should look at his own soul, how to save it, rather everyone should look at the soul of someone else in order to blacken it, to curse it, to impoverish it and to destroy it. Let no one look at his house, in order to build it, and renew it rather let everyone look at the home of another in order to burn it and demolish it. No one should look at his granaries in order to fill them, rather, one should look at the granaries of others in order to steal from them and to empty them. See, brethren, how this principle can be either a principle of good or a principle of evil; a sharp two-edged sword; an angel or Satan. See how this principle in the satanic spirit and form has taken momentum on all sides today! O Lord, Holy Spirit, Who has released these holy words in the world through the tongue of the apostle of God as bright rays of the sun to illuminate and not to burn us, help us now to fulfill them in the proper heavenly sense to the glory of the Triune God and for the salvation of our souls. To Thee be glory and praise forever. Amen.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 04:59:01 +0000
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