Daily Reading:

     For ye are our glory and joy. Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.


     And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.


O servants of godliness/ you were pillars of the Church/ and humbled the proud fire-worshipers./ O much-afflicted Hierarch Akepsimus, Joseph and Aethalas,/ pray to Christ our God to grant us His great mercy.

Caradog's anger struck off thy head, O pious Winefred/ but by the prayers of the Wonderworker Beuno thy mutilated form was miraculously made whole and restored to life./ As thou didst dedicate thy life to God's service in thanksgiving for His abundant mercy,/ pray that we, never forgetting His mercy towards us,/ may live only for Him that our souls may be saved.

Thou didst serve the Divine Mysteries blamelessly/ and was thyself an acceptable sacrifice,/ for thou didst drink Christ's chalice./ O Akepsimus, together with thy fellow martyrs,/ pray unceasingly for us all. 

Daily Reading:

     For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.


     And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?


O holy Virgin Anastasia,/ thou didst redden thy robe of purity/ with the blood of thy martyr's contest./ Thou dost illumine the world with the grace of healing/ and intercede with Christ our God for our souls.

Thou didst abandon all earthly comforts, O Father Abramius;/ thou didst live righteously in hope of things to come/ and receive a sacred anointing./ Initiated into divine mysteries thou dost enlighten those who cry:/ Glory to Him Who has strengthened thee; glory to Him Who has crowned thee;/ glory to Him Who through thee works healings for all.

Bright beacon of purity and Light of Galloway, O holy Kennera,/ as thou didst preserve thyself in virginity for love of Christ,/ pray to Him, that despite our corrupt condition He will grant us great mercy.

Rejecting the nobility of thy birth, O Father Colman,/ thou didst seek God in the solitude of desert places./ Thy virtue like a beacon, drew men unto thee/ and thou didst guide them into the way of salvation./ Guide us also by thy prayers, that our souls may be saved.

Purified by the streams of thy virginity/ and crowned by the blood of martyrdom,/ thou dost grant healing to those in sickness,/ and salvation to those who lovingly pray to thee./ For Christ has given thee strength which flows to us as a stream of grace,/ O Virgin Martyr Anastasia.

Thou didst live on earth as an angel in the flesh/ and flourish as a well planted tree,/ watered by abstinence and tears,/ O Abramius, vessel of the Holy Spirit.

What is the Christian view of smoking? Is smoking a sin?

http://www.gotquestions.org/smoking-Christian-sin.html


Answer: The Bible never directly mentions smoking. There are principles, however, that definitely apply to smoking. First, the Bible commands us not to allow our bodies to become "mastered" by anything. "Everything is permissible for me—but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible for me—but I will not be mastered by anything" (1 Corinthians 6:12). Smoking is undeniably strongly addictive. Later in the same passage we are told, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Smoking is undoubtedly very bad for your health. Smoking has been proven to damage the lungs and the heart.

Can smoking be considered "beneficial" (1 Corinthians 6:12)? Can it be said that smoking is truly honoring God with your body (1 Corinthians 6:20)? Can a person honestly smoke "for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31)? We believe that the answer to these three questions is a resounding "no." As a result, we believe that smoking is a sin and therefore should not be practiced by followers of Jesus Christ.

Some argue against this view by pointing to the fact that many people eat unhealthy foods, which can be just as addicting and just as bad for the body. As an example, many people are so helplessly addicted to caffeine that they cannot function without their first cup of coffee in the morning. While this is true, how does that make smoking right? It is our contention that Christians should avoid gluttony and excessively unhealthy eating. Yes, Christians are often hypocritical by condemning one sin and condoning another, but, again, this does not make smoking honoring to God.

Another argument against this view of smoking is that many godly men have been smokers, such as the famous British preacher C.H. Spurgeon, who was known to smoke cigars. Again, we do not believe this argument holds any weight. We believe Spurgeon was wrong for smoking. Was he otherwise a godly man and fantastic teacher of God's Word? Absolutely! Does that make all of his actions and habits honoring to God? No.

In stating that smoking is a sin, we are not stating that all smokers are unsaved. There are many true believers in Jesus Christ who smoke. Smoking does not prevent a person from being saved. Nor does it cause a person to lose salvation. Smoking is no less forgivable than any other sin, whether for a person becoming a Christian or a Christian confessing his/her sin to God (1 John 1:9). At the same time, we firmly believe that smoking is a sin that should be forsaken and, with God’s help, overcome.

Recommended Resource: Freedom from Addiction: Breaking the Bondage of Addiction and Finding Freedom in Christ by Neil Anderson.

Daily Reading:

     And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.


     And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.



Bound together by natural bonds/ and clothed with the might of faith/ you walked the path of martyrdom with your seven children./ O holy Martyrs Terence and Neonilla,/ pray that those who honour your contest may receive forgiveness of their sins.

Today the memory of the Martyrs/ is bringing gladness to us all./ Let us fervently ask them for healing,/ for they obtained this grace from the Spirit,/ to heal the infirmities and sickness of our souls.

Daily Reading:

     Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it. The salutation by the hand of me Paul. Remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.


     After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.


Let us, sinful and humbled, now earnestly run to the Mother of God,/ and let us fall down in repentance,/ crying from the depths of our soul:/ O Lady, help, have compassion on us./ Make haste, for we perish from the multitude of our sins./ Turn not thy servants empty away,/ for we have thee as our only hope.

Thou art the joy of all that sorrow/ and the protectoress of the oppressed,/ feeder of the hungry, consolation of travelers,/ haven for the tempest-tossed, visitation of the sick,/ protection and aid of the infirm, staff of old age,/ O all-pure Mother of the Most High God./ Hasten, we pray, to save thy servants.

Thou didst live piously and wast glorified in contest,/ and didst triumph over Christ's enemies./ Thou didst bring Him a company of martyrs,/ O blessed Arethas./ Glory to Him Who has strengthened thee; glory to Him Who has crowned thee;/ glory to Him Who through thee works healings for all.

Brother and companion of saints, O Father Cadfarch,/ thou art truly numbered among the Righteous of the Age of Saints./ Wherefore intercede for us, weak as we are,/ that Christ our God will grant us great mercy.

At the bidding of our Father Samson thou didst leave thy native Wales/ to serve God in Lammeur's Monastery, O Father Maelor./ Having pleased God with the sweet fragrance of monastic struggle,/ thou didst grace the island of Sark with thy godly repose./ Pray to God for us, O blessed one, that He will spare us/ from sudden and unprepared death and grant salvation to our souls.

We have no other help, we have no other hope,/ apart from thee, O Lady:/ help us. we hope in thee and in thee we glory./ Let us not be confounded for we are thy servants.

The radiant feast of the victorious Martyrs/ comes today as an occasion of gladness./ As we celebrate it we glorify the Lord on high.

Daily Reading:

     Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts; With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.


     And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us. And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.


Thou hast received the Gospel as a disciple,/ thou art invincible as a martyr,/ and bold as the Lord's brother,/ thou dost intercede as a hierarch./ O righteous James, pray to Christ our God that He may save our souls.

God the Word, only-begotten of the Father,/ came to us in the last days./ He has made thee first shepherd and teacher of Jerusalem/ and a steward of spiritual mysteries./ we honour thee, O Apostle James.

Daily Reading:

     And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.


     Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying. Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.



O fervent intercessor, Mother of the Lord Most High,/ thou dost pray to thy Son Christ our God and savest all who seek thy protection./ O Sovereign Lady and Queen,/ help and defend all of us who in trouble and trials,/ in pain and burdened with sins,/ stand in thy presence before thine icon,/ and who pray with compunction, contrition and tears/ and with unflagging hope in thee./ Grant what is good for us, deliverance from evil,/ and save us all, O Virgin Mother of God,/ for thou art a divine protection to thy servants.

Thou didst emulate the zeal of the Apostles/ and shine forth like a morning star,/ and thy works showed thy God-given power:/ Thou didst guide the erring to God, O Hierarch Abercius.

O peoples, let us run to that quiet good haven,/ to the speedy helper, the warm salvation, to the Virgin's protection./ Let us speed to prayer and hasten to repentance./ For the Mother of God pours out her mercy, anticipates needs and averts disasters/ for her patient and God-fearing servants.

The whole Church honours thee as a great Hierarch and as a companion to the Apostles./ By thy prayers keep the Church unconquered and unshaken by heresy, O glorious Abercius.

Daily Reading:

     Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.


     And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels. But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.



Thou didst quench the heat of the passions/ by the flow thy tears, O Father Christodulus./ We pray with faith:/ deliver us from passions and evils,/ for thou art interceding unceasingly for us.

Illumined in mind by the light of abstinence,/ thou wast radiant with miracles, O Father Hilarion./ Thou didst become a shining pillar of godliness/ and enlighten the of faithful who came to thee./ Glory to Him Who has strengthened thee; glory to Him Who has crowned thee;/ glory to Him Who through thee works healings for all.

As a disciple of Iona's founder,/ thou wast rooted firmly in the Faith and the monastic disciplines,/ O Founder of Taghmon's Monastery, holy Father Fintan,/ Righteous Ascetic and Champion of our Church./ As thou didst defend the tradition of our Fathers in the Faith,/ defend us, O Saint, from soul-destroying innovations,/ that we stray not from the way of salvation.

Rejoicing at the return of thy precious relics,/ thy flock cries to thee with faith:/ Thou hast come, thou hast appeared,/ my guardian and deliverer,/ O holy Christodulus.

We gather today and praise thee with hymns/ as a light of the spiritual sun./ For thou didst illumine those in the darkness of ignorance/ and raise all to divine heights./ And so we cry to thee:/ Rejoice, Hilarion, summit of ascetics.