Daily Prayer and Fasting for Orthodox Christians
Daily Prayer and Fasting for Orthodox Christians is your spiritual companion, designed to help you stay focused on God throughout each day. Join us daily for: Prayers: Learn and recite daily prayers from the Orthodox Christian Prayer Book to deepen your connection with God. Fasting Guidance: Understand the fasting practices for each day of the week, including recipes and tips to align your meals with Orthodox traditions. Scripture Readings: Reflect on the daily scripture readings and explore their meaning in your spiritual journey. Saints’ Lives: Discover the lives of the saints and how their examples can inspire you to grow closer to God. Whether you’re starting your morning or seeking a moment of reflection during the day, this podcast will guide you in living a Christ-centered Orthodox life. Tune in daily and walk the path of faith, prayer, and devotion.
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Paschal Sermon from Saint John Chrysostom
04/20/2025
Paschal Sermon from Saint John Chrysostom
Saint John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople The Paschal Sermon The Catechetical Sermon of St. John Chrysostom is read during Matins of Pascha. If any man be devout and love God, let him enjoy this fair and radiant triumphal feast. If any man be a wise servant, let him rejoicing enter into the joy of his Lord. If any have labored long in fasting, let him now receive his recompense. If any have wrought from the first hour, let him today receive his just reward. If any have come at the third hour, let him with thankfulness keep the feast. If any have arrived at the sixth hour, let him have no misgivings; because he shall in nowise be deprived thereof. If any have delayed until the ninth hour, let him draw near, fearing nothing. If any have tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness; for the Lord, who is jealous of his honor, will accept the last even as the first; He gives rest unto him who comes at the eleventh hour, even as unto him who has wrought from the first hour. And He shows mercy upon the last, and cares for the first; and to the one He gives, and upon the other He bestows gifts. And He both accepts the deeds, and welcomes the intention, and honors the acts and praises the offering. Wherefore, enter you all into the joy of your Lord; and receive your reward, both the first, and likewise the second. You rich and poor together, hold high festival. You sober and you heedless, honor the day. Rejoice today, both you who have fasted and you who have disregarded the fast. The table is full-laden; feast ye all sumptuously. The calf is fatted; let no one go hungry away. Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness. let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon has shown forth from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Savior’s death has set us free. He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it. By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive. He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh. And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry: Hell, said he, was embittered, when it encountered Thee in the lower regions. It was embittered, for it was abolished. It was embittered, for it was mocked. It was embittered, for it was slain. It was embittered, for it was overthrown. It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains. It took a body, and met God face to face. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen. O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory? Christ is risen, and you are overthrown. Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen. Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and life reigns. Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave. For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen.
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Cheesefare Forgiveness Sunday 3/2/2025
03/03/2025
Cheesefare Forgiveness Sunday 3/2/2025
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Friday, January 3, 2025 Jesus the True Shepard (John 10:1-9) and The Holy Martyress Juliania
01/04/2025
Friday, January 3, 2025 Jesus the True Shepard (John 10:1-9) and The Holy Martyress Juliania
Beloved, today is Friday, January 3, 2025 and is the 28th week after Pentecost. Nativity Fast (St. Philip's Fast): Food with Oil. Consume only bread, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and/or shellfish. Olive oil and wine are permitted. Avoid meat, dairy, poultry, and fish with backbone. Scripture Reading in Tone 2 John 10:1-9 Jesus the True Shepherd 10 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. Jesus the Good Shepherd 7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came []before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The Holy Martyress Juliania Commemorated on December 21 The Holy Martyress Juliania, daughter of an illustrious pagan named Africanus, was born in the city of Nicomedia. In her adolescent years she was betrothed to a certain Eleusios. Saint Juliania was endowed with a profound intellect and an inclination to goodness of soul, and she saw through the delusion and deception of the pagan faith. She secretly accepted holy Baptism. When the time of the wedding approached, Juliania resolutely refused to be married. Her father began to urge her not to break the long engagement but, not getting his wish, he began to beat her viciously. Then Africanus handed his daughter over to the magistrate of the city, – which was that very Eleusios, the former fiancee of Juliania. Eleusios heatedly asked Juliania to marry him, promising not to require of her a change of faith. Saint Juliania refused and preferred the torture. They beat the saint both long and harshly, but after each beating she received from God healing and new strength. Her beating was done before a large number of people. Of these, 500 men and 150 women came to confess Christ – having witnessed the steadfastness and courage of the holy virgin miraculously healed from her wounds. They were beheaded, having been baptised in their own blood. Convinced finally of his own hopeless attempt to tear the holy virgin away from her Heavenly Bridegroom, Eleusios sentenced Juliania to death. She accepted the sentence with joy and glorified the Lord for permitting her to receive a martyr's crown. The execution of the holy Martyress Juliania was done in the year 304. The story of The Holy Martyress Juliania aligns beautifully with the themes of John 10:1–9, emphasizing the role of Christ as the Good Shepherd and the Door through which the faithful enter salvation. Here’s how they connect: 1. Hearing the Shepherd’s Voice In John 10:3–4, Jesus describes how His sheep hear His voice and follow Him because they know Him. Juliania exemplifies this principle through her unwavering recognition of Christ as her true Shepherd. Despite societal pressure and familial ties, she discerned the "voice" of truth in the teachings of Christ and rejected the "voice of strangers" represented by the pagan faith and her betrothed Eleusios. Juliania’s profound intellect and spiritual insight enabled her to see through the deception of paganism. Like the sheep who do not follow a stranger, she refused to be swayed by Eleusios’ promises or her father’s demands. 2. The Door of Salvation In John 10:7–9, Jesus declares that He is the Door, and anyone who enters through Him will be saved. Juliania entered through this Door when she accepted baptism and steadfastly followed Christ, even at great personal cost. Her choice to embrace martyrdom rather than renounce her faith demonstrates her understanding that salvation comes only through Christ. By refusing to marry Eleusios and rejecting pagan practices, she chose the "pasture" of eternal life that Christ promises to those who enter through Him. Her martyrdom reflects the ultimate act of entering the Door of salvation, as she accepted death with joy to be united with her Heavenly Bridegroom. 3. Steadfastness Against Thieves and Robbers Jesus warns in John 10:1 about those who try to enter the sheepfold by another way, calling them thieves and robbers. Eleusios and her father, Africanus, can be seen as symbolic of these "thieves," attempting to lead Juliania away from the true faith. Eleusios offered compromises, promising not to force her to change her faith if she married him, yet his intentions were ultimately self-serving, not aligned with the truth of Christ. Juliania’s courage to withstand physical torture and emotional manipulation illustrates her resistance to the "stranger's voice." Her steadfastness inspired hundreds of onlookers to recognize the Good Shepherd, leading them to confess Christ, even unto death. 4. Sacrifice and Martyrdom as Following the Shepherd In John 10:9, Jesus promises that those who enter through Him will "go in and out and find pasture." Juliania’s life and death reflect this promise. By willingly giving her life for Christ, she embraced the "pasture" of eternal life. Her martyrdom mirrors the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, the Good Shepherd, who lays down His life for His sheep (as mentioned later in John 10:11). Juliania’s willingness to endure suffering and death was a testament to her faith in the Shepherd who goes before His sheep. Her martyrdom glorified God and brought others to salvation, much like the redemptive sacrifice of Christ. Conclusion The story of The Holy Martyress Juliania is a living illustration of the truths in John 10:1–9. She recognized Christ as the Good Shepherd, resisted the "voice of strangers," entered through the Door of salvation, and found eternal life. Her life and death echo the Gospel message, inspiring others to follow the Shepherd and embrace the path to salvation, no matter the cost. Through her steadfast faith, she became an icon of what it means to belong to Christ’s flock.
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Thursday, January 2 2025 The Lord's Prayer
01/02/2025
Thursday, January 2 2025 The Lord's Prayer
Beloved, today is the 28th week after Pentecost. Nativity Fast (St. Philip's Fast): Food with Oil. Consume only bread, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and/or shellfish. Olive oil and wine are permitted. Avoid meat, dairy, poultry, and fish with backbone. Todays Prayer: The Lord's Prayer- Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Scripture Readings: Matthew 6:1-13 Do Good to Please God 6 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. The Model Prayer 5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Mark 10:17-27 Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler 17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” 18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” 20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. With God All Things Are Possible 23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is []for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” 27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
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