Gospel and Epistle Readings

Matins Gospel Reading

Second Orthros Gospel
Κατὰ Μᾶρκον 16:1-8

Καὶ διαγενομένου τοῦ σαββάτου Μαρία ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ Μαρία ἡ τοῦ ᾿Ιακώβου καὶ Σαλώμη ἠγόρασαν ἀρώματα ἵνα ἐλθοῦσαι ἀλείψωσιν αὐτόν. καὶ λίαν πρωῒ τῆς μιᾶς σαββάτων ἔρχονται ἐπὶ τὸ μνημεῖον, ἀνατείλαντος τοῦ ἡλίου. καὶ ἔλεγον πρὸς ἑαυτάς· τίς ἀποκυλίσει ἡμῖν τὸν λίθον ἐκ τῆς θύρας τοῦ μνημείου; καὶ ἀναβλέψασαι θεωροῦσιν ὅτι ἀποκεκύλισται ὁ λίθος· ἦν γὰρ μέγας σφόδρα. καὶ εἰσελθοῦσαι εἰς τὸ μνημεῖον εἶδον νεανίσκον καθήμενον ἐν τοῖς δεξιοῖς, περιβεβλημένον στολὴν λευκήν, καὶ ἐξεθαμβήθησαν. ὁ δὲ λέγει αὐταῖς· μὴ ἐκθαμβεῖσθε· ᾿Ιησοῦν ζητεῖτε τὸν Ναζαρηνὸν τὸν ἐσταυρωμένον· ἠγέρθη, οὐκ ἔστιν ὧδε· ἴδε ὁ τόπος ὅπου ἔθηκαν αὐτόν. ἀλλ᾿ ὑπάγετε εἴπατε τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ καὶ τῷ Πέτρῳ ὅτι προάγει ὑμᾶς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν· ἐκεῖ αὐτὸν ὄψεσθε, καθὼς εἶπεν ὑμῖν. καὶ ἐξελθοῦσαι ἔφυγον ἀπὸ τοῦ μνημείου· εἶχε δὲ αὐτὰς τρόμος καὶ ἔκστασις, καὶ οὐδενὶ οὐδὲν εἶπον· ἐφοβοῦντο γάρ.

Second Orthros Gospel
The Reading is from Mark 16:1-8

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back, for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.

Epistle Reading

Προκείμενον. Fourth Mode. ΨΑΛΜΟΙ 103.24,1.
Ὡς ἐμεγαλύνθη τὰ ἔργα σου Κύριε, πάντα ἐν σοφίᾳ ἐποίησας.
Στίχ. Εὐλόγει ἡ ψυχή μου τὸν Κύριον.

τὸ Ἀνάγνωσμα Πρὸς Κορινθίους α' 16:13-24.

Ἀδελφοί, γρηγορεῖτε, στήκετε ἐν τῇ πίστει, ἀνδρίζεσθε, κραταιοῦσθε. Πάντα ὑμῶν ἐν ἀγάπῃ γινέσθω. Παρακαλῶ δὲ ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί - οἴδατε τὴν οἰκίαν Στεφανᾶ, ὅτι ἐστὶν ἀπαρχὴ τῆς Ἀχαΐας, καὶ εἰς διακονίαν τοῖς ἁγίοις ἔταξαν ἑαυτούς - ἵνα καὶ ὑμεῖς ὑποτάσσησθε τοῖς τοιούτοις, καὶ παντὶ τῷ συνεργοῦντι καὶ κοπιῶντι. Χαίρω δὲ ἐπὶ τῇ παρουσίᾳ Στεφανᾶ καὶ Φουρτουνάτου καὶ Ἀχαϊκοῦ, ὅτι τὸ ὑμῶν ὑστέρημα οὗτοι ἀνεπλήρωσαν. Ἀνέπαυσαν γὰρ τὸ ἐμὸν πνεῦμα καὶ τὸ ὑμῶν· ἐπιγινώσκετε οὖν τοὺς τοιούτους. Ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς αἱ ἐκκλησίαι τῆς Ἀσίας· ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς ἐν κυρίῳ πολλὰ Ἀκύλας καὶ Πρίσκιλλα, σὺν τῇ κατʼ οἶκον αὐτῶν ἐκκλησίᾳ. Ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς οἱ ἀδελφοὶ πάντες. Ἀσπάσασθε ἀλλήλους ἐν φιλήματι ἁγίῳ. Ὁ ἀσπασμὸς τῇ ἐμῇ χειρὶ Παύλου. Εἴ τις οὐ φιλεῖ τὸν κύριον Ἰησοῦν Χριστόν, ἤτω ἀνάθεμα. Μαρὰν ἀθά. Ἡ χάρις τοῦ κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ μεθʼ ὑμῶν. Ἡ ἀγάπη μου μετὰ πάντων ὑμῶν ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ. Ἀμήν.

Prokeimenon. Fourth Mode. Psalm 103.24,1.
O Lord, how manifold are your works. You have made all things in wisdom.
Verse: Bless the Lord, O my soul.

The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 16:13-24.

Brethren, be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints; I urge you to be subject to such men and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicos, because they have made up for your absence; for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men. The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brethren send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If any one has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Gospel Reading

13th Sunday of Matthew
Κατὰ Ματθαῖον 21:33-42

Εἶπεν ὁ Κύριος τήν παραβολὴν ταύτην· ῎Αλλην παραβολὴν ἀκούσατε. ἄνθρωπός τις ἦν οἰκοδεσπότης, ὅστις ἐφύτευσεν ἀμπελῶνα καὶ φραγμὸν αὐτῷ περιέθηκε καὶ ὤρυξεν ἐν αὐτῷ ληνὸν καὶ ᾠκοδόμησε πύργον, καὶ ἐξέδοτο αὐτὸν γεωργοῖς καὶ ἀπεδήμησεν. ὅτε δὲ ἤγγισεν ὁ καιρὸς τῶν καρπῶν, ἀπέστειλε τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ πρὸς τοὺς γεωργοὺς λαβεῖν τοὺς καρποὺς αὐτοῦ. καὶ λαβόντες οἱ γεωργοὶ τοὺς δούλους αὐτοῦ ὃν μὲν ἔδειραν, ὃν δὲ ἀπέκτειναν, ὃν δὲ ἐλιθοβόλησαν. πάλιν ἀπέστειλεν ἄλλους δούλους πλείονας τῶν πρώτων, καὶ ἐποίησαν αὐτοῖς ὡσαύτως. ὕστερον δὲ ἀπέστειλε πρὸς αὐτοὺς τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ λέγων· ἐντραπήσονται τὸν υἱόν μου. οἱ δὲ γεωργοὶ ἰδόντες τὸν υἱὸν εἶπον ἐν ἑαυτοῖς· οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ κληρονόμος· δεῦτε ἀποκτείνωμεν αὐτὸν καὶ κατάσχωμεν τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ. καὶ λαβόντες αὐτὸν ἐξέβαλον ἔξω τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος, καὶ ἀπέκτειναν. ὅταν οὖν ἔλθῃ ὁ κύριος τοῦ ἀμπελῶνος, τί ποιήσει τοῖς γεωργοῖς ἐκείνοις; λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· κακοὺς κακῶς ἀπολέσει αὐτούς, καὶ τὸν ἀμπελῶνα ἐκδώσεται ἄλλοις γεωργοῖς, οἵτινες ἀποδώσουσιν αὐτῷ τοὺς καρποὺς ἐν τοῖς καιροῖς αὐτῶν. λέγει αὐτοῖς ὁ ᾿Ιησοῦς· οὐδέποτε ἀνέγνωτε ἐν ταῖς γραφαῖς, λίθον ὃν ἀπεδοκίμασαν οἱ οἰκοδομοῦντες, οὗτος ἐγενήθη εἰς κεφαλὴν γωνίας· παρὰ Κυρίου ἐγένετο αὕτη, καὶ ἔστι θαυμαστὴ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἡμῶν;

13th Sunday of Matthew
The Reading is from Matthew 21:33-42

The Lord said this parable, "There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. Afterward he sent his son to them, saying 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.' And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons." Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?'"

Hymns of the Day

Resurrectional Apolytikion in the Fourth Mode

When the women Disciples of the Lord had learned from the Angel the joyful message of the Resurrection and had rejected the ancestral decision, they cried aloud to the Apostles triumphantly: Death has been despoiled, Christ God has risen, granting His great mercy to the world.

Τὸ φαιδρὸν τῆς Ἀναστάσεως κήρυγμα, ἐκ τοῦ Ἀγγέλου μαθοῦσαι αἱ τοῦ Κυρίου Μαθήτριαι, καὶ τὴν προγονικὴν ἀπόφασιν ἀπορρίψασαι, τοῖς Ἀποστόλοις καυχώμεναι ἔλεγον· Ἐσκύλευται ὁ θάνατος, ἠγέρθη Χριστὸς ὁ Θεός, δωρούμενος τῷ κόσμῳ τὸ μέγα ἔλεος.

Apolytikion for Martyrs Adrian and Natalie in the Third Mode

Αναφαίρετον, όλβον ηγήσω, τήν σωτήριον πίστιν τρισμάκαρ, καταλιπών τήν πατρώαν ασέβειαν, καί τώ Δεσπότη κατ' ίχνος επόμενος, κατεπλουτίσθης ενθέοις χαρίσμασιν, Αδριανέ ένδοξε, Χριστόν τόν Θεόν ικέτευε, ομού σύν Ναταλία τή θεόφρονι.

Thou didst deem that Faith which hath salvation to be riches never lost or plundered. Thou forsookest thy fathers' impiety, and thou didst follow thy Master, becoming rich in His divine gifts, O glorious Adrian. With the godly-minded Natalie, who emboldened thee, entreat Christ God, O Martyr, that our souls be saved.

Seasonal Kontakion in the Fourth Mode

Ιωακείμ καί Άννα όνειδισμού ατεκνίας, καί Αδάμ καί Εύα, εκ τής φθοράς τού θανάτου, ηλευθερώθησαν, Άχραντε, εν τή αγία γεννήσει σου, αυτήν εορτάζει καί ο λαός σου, ενοχής τών πταισμάτων, λυτρωθείς εν τώ κράζειν σοι, Η στείρα τίκτει τήν Θεοτόκον, καί τροφόν τής ζωής ημών.

In your holy birth, Immaculate One, Joachim and Anna were rid of the shame of childlessness; Adam and Eve of the corruption of death. And so your people, free of the guilt of their sins, celebrate crying: "The barren one gives birth to the Theotokos, who nourishes our life."

This Week at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church

Sunday, August 26

13^th Sunday of Matthew

8AM Orthros/Liturgy

10:30AM 11 year Trisagion Pete Poulos

11:30AM Goya Carwash Fundraiser

*last Sunday of summer hours

Monday, August 27

Holy Martyr Phanurios

8AM Orthros/Liturgy

Blessing of the Phanoropites

Wednesday, August 29

Beheading of the Holy and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John

9AM Orthros/Liturgy

6:30 PM Adult Greek Dancing

Thursday, August 30

7PM Cathechism class

Sunday, September 2

14^th Sunday of Matthew

8:30AM Orthros/Liturgy

Monday, September 3

Happy Labor Day!!

Office closed


*Please note that the only official calendar for the church is the online calendar

Trisagion: On Sunday, August 26, 2018, we will offer an 11 year Trisagion for Pete Poulos husband of Dena Poulos and Father of Koula Poulos Katsikis, Argie Poulos Brown and John Poulos. May his Memory be eternal!!Αιωνίατουημνήμη!!

Parish Council Members on Pangari Duty today: Manny Miliotis and Melissa Kirkby

Next week: Carl Baynard and Manny Miliotis

Sunday's Fellowship Hour is hosted by:

Koula Katsikis and Strategic Planning Ministry

Parish News & Updates

PARISH NEWS & NOTES

***NEW*** SAVE THE DATE:..September 23,2018.. MEDICAL FUNDRAISER for Stephanie Harrill andbaby Georgianna, the daughter and granddaughter of Marisa Manolukas-Gallaher & Pat Gallaher. A luncheon will be hosted by Jeanne Tsigelis of Chris’ Restaurant in the Fellowship Hall after Divine Liturgy at 11:30am. Please support this philanthropic luncheon. Minimum donation is $10 for adults and $5.00 for children 12 & under. RSVP by 9/15/18 to the office at 392-4444.

**NEW***HUMANITY NOW…Please read the following from Jen Maravevias: Dear St. Nicholas,Thank you so much for the support you have given to Humanity Now. Your donations have eased the suffering of many people living is dire conditions. Please join us for a fundraiser on September 13th. We want to be sure to have enough food and drinks, so don’t forget to RSVP as soon as possible. Love, Jen Maraveyias and Humanity Now

**NEW** CHANGE IN CHURCH HOURS…This is the last week for “summer hours.” We will be starting Orthros at 8:30AM and Liturgy at 10:00am starting September 2, 2018.

***NEW*** SAINT PHANURIOS - bring your phanoropites for blessing this week ON MONDAY,August 27 by 9:00 AM in time for Divine Liturgy.

ON SUNDAY…GOYA CAR WASH....Please support our Youth ON Sunday August 26 by getting your car washed between 11:30 - 2:00PM. Bring your entire fleet to church to be pampered by GOYA and help fund their activities for the year. Open to the public so tell all your friends and family. Please be generous with your donation!!

SAVE THE DATE FAMILY SPIRITUAL RETREAT… It’s that time of year again to announce St. Nicholas’ 4^th Annual Regional Family Retreat on October 13 at Camp Kirkwood, Watha, NC. This promises to be a very memorable event with our guest speaker, Father Barnabas Powell. This will be a one-day event this year. More information will be announced soon! For more information, please contact Dr. Michael Rallis, 910-619-0014 or call the church office.

SAVE THE DATE OCF BEACH RETREAT hosted by St. Nicholas GOC on Sept. 15-16 for NC District college students ages 18-25. The theme is “Taking up your Cross – Owning our Faith in Christ”. You may register via Facebook @ OCF Beach Retreat. If there are any questions, contact Koula Fragos at KEF3110@UNCW.EDU.

PROSFORO…Thank you to those Servants in our Lord who have brought Prosforo this past week to our Church. Our Community has need for more Prosforo. With many hands we can make light work of this blessed task. Thank you in advance to those who heed this call.

METROPOLIS EVENT…Please save the date for Saturday, September 29, 2018. We are fortunate to host a miraculous icon - Panagia Vimatarissa - from the Monastery of Vatopaidi on Mount Athos, for all to venerate at the Panagia Chapel in Salem, South Carolina. His Eminence looks forward to seeing as many members of the Metropolis family there as is possible. For more information, please contact the office, see your online bulletin or check out our St. Nicholas Facebook page for a direct link for this event!

SAVE THE DATE…Philoptochos sponsored Taverna Night and Silent Auction on Saturday, October 27 starting 7:30PM. Live Greek Music, Heavy hor d’oevres/Cash bar, Great silent auction items in time for holiday givingThis will support our many charities, including Nourish NC, NC Diaper Bank, Local Homeless Teens, IOCC, and OC

Parish News and Updates (Continued)

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE ILL, RECOVERING AND/OR HOMEBOUND...

Angelo Angeledes, Shelby Biancaniello (daughter of Sue Lawler), Bobby Bobon (brother of Sue Lawler), Stavros Chantiles, Anthony Constandy (father of Elisabeth Baynard), Sherry Demas, Nicholas Devoles, Constantine Dukas, Sue Fokakis (Autumn Care), Demitra George, Stephanie Harrill & Georgianna (daughter & granddaughter of Pat and Marisa Gallaher), Maria Karafas, Nick Karloutsos (Silver Stream), Dan Kirkby (brother of Matthew), Nikolaos Kotsinis, Olga Mancuso, Calvin McGowan, Mary Compos Marmaras (Cypress Pointe), Eleni Mitsis (mother of Effie Davis), Maria Padgett-Velaetis, Koula Poulos, Pat Skinner-Darby, Charity Skinner-Darby (daughter of Pat), Tom Souflas, Peggy Stephano, Helen Vurnakes, Vasilios Vogiatzis, MaryAnn Wall.

Please contact the church office to add/remove someone from the list.

LIVE STREAMING OF SERVICES... Please be reminded of the live streaming of our services at St. Nicholas that can be seen on our website directly at www.stnicholaswilmington.org/LiveStreaming.html. In case you would like to set your mobile devices up with the pertinent app please contact Alexandros Theodoropoulos at communications@stnicholaswilmington.org

ONLINE GIVING... We have an online giving system in place on our website that can be used for conveniently making donations towards stewardship pledges. The pertinent donation buttons are located on the left pane of the homepage at www.stnicholaswilmington.org as well as on the Stewardship page of our website at www.stnicholaswilmington.org/Stewardship.html .

General Fund Operating Expenses versus Income
	Expenses	Income	Difference
January	$37,995.11	$19,386.32	-$18,608.79
February	$25,635.51	$19,855.87	-$5,779.64
March	$26,290.76	$26,811.13	$520.37
April	$20,786.00	$34,989.75	$14,203.75
May	$31,598.95	$29,959.88	-$1,639.07
June	$31,591.26	$16,609.00	-$14,982.26
Year to Date	$173,897.59	$147,611.95	-$26,285.64

***********************************************

Stewardship
	Received	Goal	Difference
January	$16,475.32	$24,196.28	-$7,720.96
February	$15,634.20	$24,196.28	-$8,562.08
March	$21,383.00	$24,196.28	-$2,813.28
April	$15,687.60	$24,196.28	-$8,508.68
May	$24,863.58	$24,196.28	$667.30
June	$13,810.00	$24,196.28	-$10,386.28
Year to Date	$107,853.70	$145,177.68	-$37,323.98

We can provide hearing assistance systems. If you would like to use the system while you are attending Liturgical Services in person, please see an attendant at the pangari stand.

We welcome you to worship with us, whether you are an Orthodox Christian or this is your first visit to an Orthodox Church, we are pleased to have you with us. Although Holy Communion and other Sacraments are offered only to Baptized and Chrismated (confirmed) Orthodox Christians in good standing with the church, ALL are invited to receive the Antidoron (blessed bread) from the priest at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. The Antidoron is not sacramental, but it is reminiscent of the agape feast that followed worship in the ancient Christian Church.

During Divine Liturgy each Sunday starting August 26, 2018, we have a staffed nursery with attendant available for the use of our youngest members from birth to age 5. If your child needs a wiggle break or a place to listen to the Divine Liturgy in a different environment, please feel free to use this provided Service.

WELCOME VISITORS! Please complete a Visitor’s Card before you leave Church and drop it in the offering tray, give it to one of our parishioners after Divine Liturgy, or mail it back to the church office. We would love to get to know you!

Bulletin Inserts

An Important Encyclical from the Ecumenical Patriarchate

Having received the important encyclical from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, please review the material carefully prior to Sunday, August 26th, 2018. In doing so, we will be working together to fulfill this important task set for by our Holy Ecumenical Patriarchate. *Please scroll to down to read message in English.

Feast Day of Panagia Prousiotissa Monastery August 21 & 22 2018

Invitation for all to attend. Also included is information for the October 17, 2018 20th Anniversary Event for the Founding of the Holy Monastery of Panagia Prousiotissa.

Goya Car Wash

GOYA CAR WASH....Please support our Youth next Sunday, August 26, 2018 by getting your car washed between 11:30 - 2:00PM.

Philoptochos and School Supplies

Please join our Philoptochos in helping provide needed supplies for our local schools.

St. Demetrios, August 24-26, 2018

We would like to invite all Goyans to Beach Reach retreat. This is an awesome opportunity to get reconnected with other Goyans and with God. Most recent flyer is attached. We will follow up with the rest of the forms for registration next week. If you have any question, please email cdsamaan7@gmail.com . Looking forward to seeing you all in Daytona Beach. -St. Demetrios Goyans

Arrival of the Panagia Vimatarissa Icon September 29 2018

Beginning at 11:00 AM, this rare and joyous occasion will take the form of a procession with the icon of the Theotokos into our new Panagia Chapel, led by His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta, along with the Monks of Vatopaidi, the clergy of the Metropolis of Atlanta, and a parade group created especially for the event! Together, we will all have the opportunity to venerate the miraculous icon of our Lady, offer glory to our God and Creator, thanking those who made this day possible, and enjoying the fellowship of our Metropolis of Atlanta family. His Eminence hopes to see as many parishioners there as possible.

Greek Taverna Night 2018

Please help us promote our Greek Taverna Night on Saturday October 27, 2018. We will have Live Greek Music. We will also have our Silent Auction! Proceeds will benefit Nourish NC, NC Diaper Bank, Local Homeless Teens, IOCC, OCMC. We are excited about this event and hope to make it an annual one! Tell all your friends about it!

Family Spiritual Retreat hosted by St. Nicholas

Featuring Father Barnabas Powell Saturday, October 13 at Camp Kirkwood Registration packets will be mailed August 15.

Connect October 5-7, 2018

A message from Fr. Paul Lundberg: Dear and Reverend Fathers, Following the success of last fall's Connect Conference in Atlanta, the team of young adults who organized it has been working hard to prepare for another one. As we are in the midst of our final efforts for publicity, I write to ask for your help with spreading the word to your parishes. Below you’ll find text and attachments to use in your usual communication channels—weekly bulletins, email, social media, etc. I would be sincerely thankful if you would share this information with your parishes over the coming weeks, until mid-September. We hope to have a large representation of local young adults from the Southeast at this year’s conference. Respectfully, Fr. Paul Lundberg

Stewardship Pledges 2018

January 2018 - June 11, 2018

Saints and Feasts

August 26

The Holy Martyrs Adrian and Natalie

The holy Martyrs Adrian and Natalie confessed the Christian Faith during the reign of Maximian, in Nicomedia, in the year 298. Adrian was a pagan; witnessing the valor of the Martyrs, and the fervent faith with which they suffered their torments, he also declared himself a Christian and was imprisoned. When this was told to his wife Natalie, who was secretly a believer, she visited him in prison and encouraged him in his sufferings. Saint Adrian's hands and feet were placed on an anvil and broken off with a hammer; he died in his torments. His blessed wife recovered part of his holy relics and took it to Argyropolis near Byzantium, and reposed in peace soon after.

August 26

Icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir

In all probability, the icon of the Mother of God of Vladimir was painted in Constantinople. In the twelfth century, Patriarch Luke Chrysoberges sent it to Kiev to Great Prince Yuri Dolgruky. The icon was kept in the convent at Vyshgorod, whence the holy Prince Andrew of Bogoliubovo brought it to Vladimir. The icon is one of the most venerated in Russia, having been carried by princes in military campaigns, prayed before by rulers for the welfare of the people, and flocked to by the faithful of all walks of life. At the election of the metropolitans and patriarchs, the names of the candidates were placed before this holy icon, and after prayer, the lot chosen; Patriarch Tikhon the Confessor was elected this way. The icon is celebrated also on June 23 and May 21, the last feast being established to commemorate the deliverance of Moscow in 1521 from the onslaught of the Tartar Khan Makhmet-Girei.

August 27

Pimen the Great

Saint Pimen was from Egypt and shone forth in the ascetical life in Scete in the fourth century; he was renowned for his discretion. Many of his sayings and deeds are preserved in the Paradise of the Fathers and the Sayings of the Fathers.

August 27

Holy Martyr Phanurius

Little is known of the holy Martyr Phanurius, except that which is depicted concerning his martyrdom on his holy icon, which was discovered in the year 1500 among the ruins of an ancient church on Rhodes, when the Moslems ruled there. Thus he is called "the Newly Revealed." The faithful pray to Saint Phanurius especially to help them recover things that have been lost, and because he has answered their prayers so often, the custom has arisen of baking a Phaneropita ("Phanurius-Cake") as a thanks-offering.

August 29

Beheading of the Holy and Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John

The divine Baptist, the Prophet born of a Prophet, the seal of all the Prophets and beginning of the Apostles, the mediator between the Old and New Covenants, the voice of one crying in the wilderness, the God-sent Messenger of the incarnate Messiah, the forerunner of Christ's coming into the world (Esaias 40: 3; Mal. 3: 1); who by many miracles was both conceived and born; who was filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb; who came forth like another Elias the Zealot, whose life in the wilderness and divine zeal for God's Law he imitated: this divine Prophet, after he had preached the baptism of repentance according to God's command; had taught men of low rank and high how they must order their lives; had admonished those whom he baptized and had filled them with the fear of God, teaching them that no one is able to escape the wrath to come if he do not works worthy of repentance; had, through such preaching, prepared their hearts to receive the evangelical teachings of the Savior; and finally, after he had pointed out to the people the very Savior, and said, "Behold the Lamb of God, Which taketh away the sin of the world" (Luke 3:2-18; John 1: 29-36), after all this, John sealed with his own blood the truth of his words and was made a sacred victim for the divine Law at the hands of a transgressor.

This was Herod Antipas, the Tetrarch of Galilee, the son of Herod the Great. This man had a lawful wife, the daughter of Arethas (or Aretas), the King of Arabia (that is, Arabia Petraea, which had the famous Nabatean stone city of Petra as its capital. This is the Aretas mentioned by Saint Paul in II Cor. 11:32). Without any cause, and against every commandment of the Law, he put her away and took to himself Herodias, the wife of his deceased brother Philip, to whom Herodias had borne a daughter, Salome. He would not desist from this unlawful union even when John, the preacher of repentance, the bold and austere accuser of the lawless, censured him and told him, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife" (Mark 6: 18). Thus Herod, besides his other unholy acts, added yet this, that he apprehended John and shut him in prison; and perhaps he would have killed him straightway, had he not feared the people, who had extreme reverence for John. Certainly, in the beginning, he himself had great reverence for this just and holy man. But finally, being pierced with the sting of a mad lust for the woman Herodias, he laid his defiled hands on the teacher of purity on the very day he was celebrating his birthday. When Salome, Herodias' daughter, had danced in order to please him and those who were supping with him, he promised her -- with an oath more foolish than any foolishness -- that he would give her anything she asked, even unto the half of his kingdom. And she, consulting with her mother, straightway asked for the head of John the Baptist in a charger. Hence this transgressor of the Law, preferring his lawless oath above the precepts of the Law, fulfilled this godless promise and filled his loathsome banquet with the blood of the Prophet. So it was that that all-venerable head, revered by the Angels, was given as a prize for an abominable dance, and became the plaything of the dissolute daughter of a debauched mother. As for the body of the divine Baptist, it was taken up by his disciples and placed in a tomb (Mark 6: 21 - 29). Concerning the finding of his holy head, see February 24 and May 25.

Wisdom of the Fathers

Many things does He intimate by this parable, God's providence, which had been exercised towards them from the first; their murderous disposition from the beginning; that nothing had been omitted of whatever pertained to a heedful care of them;...

St. John Chrysostom