Fasting Rules
Meat
Allowed
Fish
Allowed
Dairy
Allowed
Oil
Allowed
Wine
Allowed
Saints & Commemorations
Unc. Rel. Ven. Seraphim of Sarov
Dius, Abbot of Antioch
Saint Theodore, Bishop of Edessa
St Macrina, sister of St Basil the Great and St Gregory of Nyssa (380)
She was sought as a bride by many because of her exceptional beauty and wisdom as well as her noble birth. She was betrothed at a young age, and when her betrothed died, she refused to consider any more suitors, saying that since her betrothed was alive in Christ, it was not right for her to turn to another.
She was sought as a bride by many because of her exceptional beauty and wisdom as well as her noble birth. She was betrothed at a young age, and when her betrothed died, she refused to consider any more suitors, saying that since her betrothed was alive in Christ, it was not right for her to turn to another. Instead she turned to a life of virginity, ascetic struggle and prayer. She greatly influenced her younger brothers, turning them from worldly things to monastic life. She established a monastery and, with her mother Emilia, became a nun. She reposed in peace in 379.
Her brother St Gregory of Nyssa held her in special honor. He was present at her death and gave a moving oration at her funeral. He describes how, in her last moments, she prayed thus to God: ‘Thou, O Lord, givest rest to our bodies in the sleep of death for a little time, then Thou wilt waken them again with the Last Trumpet. Forgive me, and grant that, when my soul is parted from my body, it may be presented before Thee stainless and without sin, and that it may be as incense before Thee.’ Then she made the sign of the Cross on her brow, eyes, face and heart, and died. St Gregory’s work on the resurrection of the dead (available in English as On the Soul and Resurrection) is cast in the form of a dialogue between himself and his sister Macrina in which he is the earnest but ignorant student and she the wise and patient teacher. So do the Saints honor the Saints.
Scripture Readings
☩Epistle
Romans 12:4-5, 15-21
4
For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
5
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
15
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
16
Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
17
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
18
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
19
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
20
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
21
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
☩Gospel
Matthew 12:9-13
9
And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:
10
And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
11
And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
12
How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.
13
Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.
Liturgical data sourced from OCA.org and orthocal.info