Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian (2nd century)
Righteous Gideon, Judge of Israel (c. 1307 BC)
Five Consecrated Virgins Thecla, Mariamne, Martha, Mary, and Ennatha of Persia, who were beheaded by Paul their presbyter.(4th century)
Martyr Widow (Cyra)
Saint Nilus the Younger, of Rossano, Calabria, founder of the monastery of Grottaferrata (Crypta-Ferrata) (1005)
Venerable John the Cave-Dweller, ascetic of Sia, Cyprus, Wonderworker
New Hieromartyrs John, Archpriest of Voronezh, and John, Priest of Arzamas.
Commemorated on September 26
Verses.
Father’s beloved Word you stand beside,
Beloved more than all of the Disciples.
Passed on the twenty sixth day unto God the child of the thunder.
First Sunday of Luke
‘The Miraculous Catch of Fish‘(St. Luke 5:1-11)
Hymn of Praise
CHRIST THE LORD AS A FISHERMAN
by Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
A wonderful Fisherman, O Christ the Lord, You are,
Throughout the entire world, the nets You spread,
For pure pearls You trawl from the waters deep,
Invisible net, by the Spirit woven,
Woven with love, moistened with tears,
By angelic hands, everywhere upheld.
Everyone to whom a mother gave birth and by the Spirit reared,
Most beautiful souls all, that the world can give.
All that into the numbers of Your rich catch entered,
All that Your silk net caught.
When nets from the sea of life, You raise
Nothing will remain except the muddy scum.
O, Fisherman, Most Wonderful, of pure pearls,
And we sinners, Your pearls, at one time were,
Now, from Your Throne, we are far away,
Under the sediment of dark passions, covered are we,
But, may Your net also us, to seize,
From Your countenance, we will shine as the stars.
“Prolog from Ochrid”, by St Nikolai Velimirovich)
http://prologue.orthodox.cn/March22.htm
Prayers by the Lake
St. Nikolai Velimirovich, Bishop of Ochrid
Poem XVII (17)
How tedious to me are the counsels of human leaders and wise men–oh how tedious they seem to me–ever since Your wisdom caused my heart and mind to tremble, Holy God.
Those whom the dark desires of the heart are dragging into the abyss do not believe in Your light. There are no obstacles for a stone while it is rolling down a hill. The higher the steep slope and the deeper the abyss — the swifter and more unrestrained is the rolling of the stone.
One dark desire lures another with its success; and that one hires yet another, until all that is good in a person withers, and all that is evil gushes out in a torrential flood–until, along with everything else, all that the Holy Spirit has built is washed away, both inside and out;
Until the scorners of the light begin to scorn themselves and their teachers;
Until the sweetest sweets begin to choke them with their stench;
Until all the material goods, for which they killed neighbours and razed cities, begin to mock their monstrosity.
Then they stealthily lift their eyes toward heaven, and through the dung of their profaned and putrid existence, they cry out: “Holy God!”
How it irritates me like a burning arrow to hear men boasting of their power, ever since I came to know of Your powerful hand, Holy Mighty!
They build towers of stone and say: “We are better builders than your God.” But I ask them: “Did you, or your fathers, build the stars?”
They discover light inside the earth, and boast: “We know more than your God.” But I ask them: “Who buried the light beneath the earth for you to discover?”
They fly through the air and arrogantly say: “By ourselves we have created wings for ourselves, where is your God?” But I ask them: “Who gave you the idea of wings and flying if not the birds, which you did not create?”
Yet see what happens when You open their eyes to their own frailty! When irrational creatures show them their monstrous power; when their mind becomes filled with wonder at the starry towers, that stand in space without pillars or foundations; when their heart becomes filled with fear of their own frailty and insanity–then, in shame and humility, they stretch out their arms toward You and cry: “Holy Mighty!”
How it saddens me to see people overrating this life, ever since I tasted the sweetness of Your immortality, Holy Immortal!
The shortsighted see only this life, and say: “This is the only life there is, and we shall make it immortal by means of our deeds among men.” But I tell them: “If your beginning is like a river, then it must have a source; if it is like a tree, it must have its root, if it is like a beam of light, it must come from some sun.” And again I tell them: “So, you intend to establish your immortality among mortals? Try starting a fire in water!”
But when they look death in the face, they are left speechless, and torment seizes their heart. When they smell the flesh of their dead brides; when they leave the empty faces of their friends in the grave; when they place their hands on their sons’ chests that have grown cold; when they realize that even kings are not able to buy off death with their crowns, nor heroes with their mighty deeds, nor wise men with their wisdom–then they feel the icy wind of death breathing down their necks too, and they fall down on their knees and bow their heads over their toppled pride, and pray to You: “Holy Immortal, have mercy on us!”
http://www.sv-luka.org/praylake/pl17.htm
St. John the Evangelist, Bring us close to Him, the powerful God, the sweet God; and though we are not worthy of His bosom, at least bring us close-to His feet! Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2020/09/25/st-john-the-evangelist-bring-us-close-to-him-the-powerful-god-the-sweet-god-and-though-we-are-not-worthy-of-his-bosom-at-least-bring-us-close-to-his-feet-saint-nikolai-velimirovic/
Saint John the Theologian, Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. By Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh
https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2019/09/25/saint-john-the-theologian-greater-love-has-no-man-than-this-that-he-lay-down-his-life-for-his-friends-by-metropolitan-anthony-of-sourozh/
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Saint John the Theologian, Apostle and Evangelist
This apostle was wholly permeated by love for his neighbor. His entire life was a life of love. At the end of his life, the holy Apostle limited his preaching to the brief exhortation: Children, love one another! When asked why he repeated one and the same thing over and over, the holy Apostle replied, “This is the command of the Lord, and if you fulfill it, it is sufficient.”
Scripture readings for the feast are the following:
At Vespers: I John 3:21-4:6, I John 4:11-18, I John 4:20-5:5.
At the Matins: John 21:15-25.
At the Divine Liturgy: I John 4:12-19; John 19:25-27, 21:24-25.
Hymns of the Saint
Apolytikion of the Saint John the Theologian (Second Tone)
Beloved Apostle of Christ our God, hasten to deliver a people without defense. He who permitted you to recline upon His bosom, accepts you on bended knee before Him. Beseech Him, O Theologian, to dispel the persistent cloud of nations, asking for us peace and great mercy.
Glory. Tone 4. By Vyzantios.
As you leant on the breast of the Teacher Christ at the Lord’s supper, beloved Disciple, you learnt there ineffable things, and you thundered to all the heavenly utterance: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God; the true light that enlightens every one who comes into the world, Christ God, and the Saviour of our souls.
Tone 8. The Wisdom and Word.
You were named son of divine thunder, for you deafened the ears of the impious, and more sweetly than a trumpet you made the incarnation of the Word sound in upright hearts. As a true friend you leant on his breast; from which you drew out the deep of knowledge, all-wise Apostle John, and proclaimed to all the One who is with the Father without beginning. Intercede with Christ God to bestow forgiveness of faults on those who celebrate with love your holy memory.
Kathisma. Tone 8. The Wisdom and Word.
Having abandoned the deep of fishing, O all-praised, you caught all the nations like fishes with the rod of the Cross; for as Christ had said to you, you were named a fisher of men, catching them for true religion; therefore you sowed the knowledge of the Word of God and made Patmos and Ephesus fruitful by your words. Theologian, Apostle, intercede with Christ God to bestow forgiveness of faults on those who feast with love your holy memory.
The Ikos.
To learn wholly the high secrets of heaven, to investigate the depths of the sea is rash and beyond comprehension; as therefore it is wholly impossible to number all the stars and the sand on the sea shore, so it is to tell the graces of the Theologian, with so many crowns Christ has garlanded the one he loved; the one who leant on his breast and feasted with him at the mystical supper, as Theologian and friend of Christ.
Gospel: Luke 5 : 1 – 11
So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, 2 and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. 3 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat. 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” 6
And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. 7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” 11 So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.
Ευφροσύνη Αλεξανδρείας , και ο πατέρας της
Venerable Mother Euphrosyne, nun, of Alexandria
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Saint Nikolai Velimirovič
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Assembling all his armies, he marched against the heathen Tatars to meet them on the field of battle at Kulikova, where the rivers of Don and Nepryadva meet. Prince Dimitry and his generals, upon seeing the multitudes of the Horde, began to doubt of obtaining victory. The generals were perplexed, not knowing what to do, when of a sudden, a courier from the Monastery of the Holy Trinity arrived in all haste with a message from the saint stating: “Be in no doubt, Prince Dimitry; go forward with faith and confront the enemy’s ferocity; and fear not, for God will be on your side.” Forthwith, the Grand Duke Dimitry and all his armies, were filled with a spirit of temerity; and went into battle against the pagans. They fought, and many fell, but God was with them and helped the great and invincible Dimitry, who vanquished the ungodly Tatars.
Troparion, in Tone VIII:
Σύναξη της Παναγίας της Μυρτιδιώτισσας στα Κύθηρα 
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«Άνθρωπος μεγάλης αγάπης»
Κάποτε του είπα ότι οι Ρώσοι μοναχοί βρίσκονταν σε μεγάλη ταραχή, λόγω της τυραννίας των μπολσεβίκων στην ρωσική εκκλησία του Θεού. Τότε αυτός απήντησε: «Και εγώ στην αρχή είχα ταραχή γι’ αυτό το θέμα. Μετά όμως από πολλή προσευχή μου ήρθαν οι εξής λογισμοί:
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Of the Myrtle Tree” / “Myrtidiotissa” 
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Troparion St Silouan the Athonite Tone 1:
Σύλληψις του τιμίου Προφήτου Προδρόμου και Bαπτιστού Iωάννου
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Conception of the Forerunner and Baptist John
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Φωκά ιερομάρτυρος του Θαυματουργού
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Άγιος Γέροντας Σωφρόνιος του Έσσεξ :
Η Οσία Παρασκευή Ιβάνοβνα (Πάσα του Σάρωφ), η δια Χριστόν Σαλή, ξεχείλισε το φλυτζάνι του Τσάρου Νικολάου Β΄ με ζάχαρη, για να δείξει τους πειρασμούς που τον περίμεναν.
Saint Sophrony’s earthly life lasted almost one century, but his spiritual life is unfathomable. As he himself writes about his attempt to depict the figure of his own Elder, Saint Silouan: ‘Anyone who has ever given himself over with a pure heart to contemplation of his inner self knows how impossible it is to detect the spiritual processes of the heart, because in its profundity the heart touches upon that state of being where there are no processes. But now in writing this profile I find myself faced with just such a task – portraying the evolution of a great ascetic striver.’[5]
Απόδοσις της εορτής της Υψώσεως του Τιμίου Σταυρού
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Άγιος Γαβριήλ ο δια Χριστόν Σαλός και 
Είχε βραδιάσει. Ο ηγούμενος μου ζήτησε να ανάψω μερικά κεριά και αφού πήρε το Μικρό Ευχολόγιο, το άνοιξε στη σελίδα με τις ευχές για τους ψυχορραγούντες. Με παρακάλεσε να τις διαβάσω. Άρχισα να κλαίω και να τον ικετεύω:
Απολυτίκιον Ήχος α’
iconandlight 