The Morning Offering

Come and See
Experience the Living God by stepping into the ancient church.
#God #orthodox #church

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22
But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.
23
For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
24
Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
25
And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,
26
that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.
27
Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,
Luke 4:16-22
16
So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.
17
And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
18
The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."
20
Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
21
And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
22
So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?"

Wednesday October 7, 2026 / September 24, 2026
19th Week after Pentecost. Tone one.
Fast
Holy Protomartyr and Equal-to-the-Apostles Thecla of Iconium (1st c.).
St. Gabriel, of Pskov-Eleazar Monastery and Kazan (1915).
New Hieromartyr Basil deacon (1918).
New Hieromartyrs Andrew and Paul priests, Hieromartyr Vitaly and Martyrs Basil, Sergius and Spiridon (1937).
New Hieromartyr Nicander priest (1939).
Venerable Nicander, hermit of Pskov (1581).
Martyrdom of St. Galacteon, monk of Vologda (1612).
Venerable Coprius of Palestine (530).
Saint Vladislav of Serbia (1239).
Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos of "Mirozh" and "Of the Myrtle Tree" (1198).
Venerable Abramius, abbot of Mirozh (Pskov) (1158).
Venerables Stephen the First-Crowned (in monasticism Simon) (1224), David, and Vladislav (1239), of Serbia.
Righteous Euphrosyne, daughter of St. Paphnutius of Egypt.
Venerable Dorothea of Kashin (1629).
Arrival in America of the first Orthodox Mission: Sts. Herman, Juvenaly, and others (1794).
St. Isarnus of Marseilles (1043).
The Scripture Readings
Philippians 1:12-20
12
But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,
13
so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;
14
and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15
Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill:
16
The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;
17
but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.
18
What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
19
For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20
according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
Luke 4:1-15
1
Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2
being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.
3
And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."
4
But Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.' "
5
Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6
And the devil said to Him, "All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.
7
Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.
8
And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "
9
Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here.
10
For it is written:'He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you,'
11
and, 'In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.' "
12
And Jesus answered and said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.' "
13
Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.
14
Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region.
15
And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
Thursday Reading
Philippians 1:20-27
20
according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
21

Complaints Kill Your Soul
No one becomes a saint through complaints.
#orthodox #cross #complaint

Tuesday October 6, 2026 / September 23, 2026
19th Week after Pentecost. Tone one.
3The Conception of the Honorable, Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John.
Canonization (1977) of St. Innocent Metropolitan of Moscow.
New Hieromartyr John priest (1937).
New Hieromartyr Arsenius archbishop (1937).
Venerables Xanthippa and Polyxena (109), disciples of the Apostles, who died in Spain.
Virgin-martyr Irais (Rhais) of Alexandria (308).
Martyrs Andrew, John, Peter, and Antoninus of Syracuse, martyred in Africa (886).
"Slovensk" Icon of the Mother of God (1635).
"Hawaiian" Myrrh-streaming Iveron Ikon of the Theotokos (2007).
New Martyr Nicholas Pantopolis at Constantinople (1672) (Greek).
New Martyr John of Epirus (1814).
Venerable Adamnan, abbot of Iona, biographer of St. Columba (704) (Celtic & British).
The Scripture Readings
Philippians 1:8-14
8
For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
9
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,
10
that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,
11
being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
12
But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,
13
so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;
14
and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Luke 3:23-4:1
23
Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,
24
the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph,
25
the son of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
26
the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah,
27
the son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
28
the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er,
29
the son of Jose, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,
30
the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim,
31
the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
32
the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
33
the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
34
the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
35
the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,
36
the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
37
the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,
38
the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
1
Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
Galatians 4:22-31 Forerunner
22
For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.
23
But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise,
24
which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar-
25
or this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children-
26
but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27
For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband."
28

Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
29
But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now.
30
Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman."
31
So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
Luke 1:5-25 Forerunner
5
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
6
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.
8
So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division,
9
according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10
And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense.
11
Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12
And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13
But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
14
And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
16
And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
17
He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
18
And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."
19
And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.
20
But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.
21
And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.
22
But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.
23
So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.
24
Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,
25
Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.

Christian Freedom
“For us Christians, especially those who have now witnessed such unequivocally terrible fruits of these imaginary freedoms, it should be clear that the salvation, happiness and well-being of humanity lies not in dissipation nor in unrestrained passions, but in the search for true freedom— Christian freedom, which is in the deliverance of man's soul from the sin which torments it.”
Archbishop Averky of Jordanville
#Christian #freedom #happiness