Commemoration:
February 6, 2012 (February 19 ns)
Eastern Calendar/Sunday of the Last Judgment (meat-free), Tone three
Western Calendar/Sexagesima Sunday
St. Vedast, bishop of Arras (540). St. Amand, apostle of Maastricht (675) (Neth.). St. Photius, patriarch of Constantinople (891). [Metropolia Calendar]
St. Bucolus, bishop of Smyrna (ca. 100). New Hieromartyrs Demetrius priest and Martyr Anatolius (1921). New Hieromartyr Basil priest (1930). Sts. Barsanuphius the Great and John the Prophet, monks of Palestine (6th c.). Virgin-martyr Dorothea, and with her Martyrs Christina and Callista, sisters, and Theophilus, at Caesarea in Cappadocia (288-300). Martyr Julian of Emesa (312). Virgin-martyr Fausta, and with her Martyrs Evilasius and Maximus, at Cyzicus (ca. 305-311). Virgin-martyrs Martha and Mary, and their brother Martyr Lycarion, in Egypt. St. Dorothea, schemanun of Kashin (1629). St. Mael, bishop of Ardagh, disciple of St. Patrick (488) (Celtic & British). Martyrs Faustus, Basil and Silvanus of Darion in Constantinople (Greek). St. John of Thebes, monk (Greek). St. James, ascetic of Syria (ca. 460). St. Arsen of Iqalto, Georgia (1127). New Hieromartyr Priest Basil Nadezhnin of Moscow, (1937)
Holy Rule of St Benedict
Chapter 7 Of Humility (cont’d)
The ninth degree of humility is, when a monk withholdeth his tongue from speaking, and keeping silence doth not speak until he is asked; for the Scripture showeth that "in a multitude of words there shall not want sin" (Prov 10:19); and that "a man full of tongue is not established in the earth" (Ps 139[140]:12).
Meat-fare Sunday by Saint Theophan the Recluse
[I Cor. 8:8–9:2; Matt. 25:31–46]
The great judgement! The judge cometh in the clouds, surrounded by a countless multitude of bodiless heavenly powers. Trumpets sound over all the ends of the earth and raise up the dead. The risen regiments pour into the determined place, to the throne of the Judge, having already a foreboding of what verdict will sound in their ears, for everyone’s deeds will be written on the brow of their nature, and their very appearance will correspond to their deeds and morals. The division of those on His right hand and those on His left will be accomplished in and of itself.
At last all has been determined. Deep silence falls. In another instant, the decisive verdict of the Judge is heard: to some, “Come,” to the others, “depart.” “Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us! May Thy mercy, O Lord, be on us!” they shall say, but then it will already be too late to plead. We need to take the trouble now to wash away the unfavourable marks written upon our nature. Then, at the judgment, we would be ready to pour out rivers of tears in order to wash ourselves; but this would do no good. Let us weep now, if not rivers of tears, then at least streams; if not streams, then at least drops. If we cannot find even this much, then let us become contrite in heart, and confess our sins to the Lord, begging Him to forgive them, and promising not to offend Him any more through violation of His commandments. Then, let us be zealous to faithfully fulfil this promise.
