The holy prophet Micah was of the tribe of Judah and from the village of Morasth. He was a contemporary of the prophets Isaiah, Amos, and Hosea. He denounced the vices of the people, foretold the fall of Samaria, and was a seer of the coming Messiah. He named Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah. He was buried in his own village, and his relics were found in the 4th century.
Our father Theodosius of the Caves was the Father of monasticism in Russia. At the age of twenty-four, he secretly left his parental home and St. Anthony at the Kiev Caves monastery blessed him to receive monastic tonsure with the name Theodosius. The saint was not afraid to denounce the mighty of this world. Those unjustly condemned always found a defender in him, and judges would review matters at the request of the igumen. He was particularly concerned for the destitute. He built a special courtyard for them at the monastery where anyone in need could receive food and drink. Sensing the approach of death, St. Theodosius peacefully fell asleep in the Lord in the year 1074. He was buried in a cave which he dug, where he secluded himself during fasting periods. The relics of the ascetic were found incorrupt in the year 1091. St. Theodosius was numbered among the saints in 1108.
As we celebrate the memory of your prophet Micah, O Lord, we implore You to save our souls through his prayers.
Guide to Orthodoxy, teacher of piety and holiness, luminary for the world, inspired adornments of monks, O wise Theodosius, Harp of the Spirit, you enlightened all by your teachings; intercede with Christ our God to save our souls.
Celebrating your glorious memory today, the world mystically dances for joy and cries out to you, O Theotokos: Rejoice, Virgin, Boast of Christians.
You were enlightened by the blessing of the Holy Spirit, setting forth in prophecy the pure and immaculate condescension of Christ our God, O blessed Micah, and messenger of Christ. Therefore, pray for us who worthily honor your memory.
You are a successor to the fathers, O holy monk, and you followed them in your life and teachings, your character and temperance, prayer and intercession. Since you have found favor with God, obtain the remission of our sins and salvation for those who sing to you: Rejoice, O father Theodosius.
2 Corinthians 9:12 – 10:7
Brothers and sisters: the administering of this [charity collection] not only supplies the needs of the members of the church but also overflows in much gratitude to God. Because of your praiseworthy service they are glorifying God for your obedient faith in the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with all. They pray for you longingly because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
I, Paul, exhort you be the meekness and kindness of Christ, I who (you say) when present in your midst am lowly, but when absent am bold toward you. I beg you that when I am there, I may not have to act boldly, with that assurance I might dare to use courageously against certain ones who accuse us of weak human behavior. We do indeed live in the body but we do not wage war with human resources. The weapons of our warfare are not merely human. They possess God’s power for the destruction of the strongholds. We demolish sophistries and every proud pretension that raises itself against the knowledge of God; we likewise bring every thought into captivity to make it obedient to Christ. We are ready to punish disobedience in anyone else once your own disobedience is perfect. You view things superficially. If anyone is convinced that he belongs to Christ, let him reflect on this: he may belong to Christ but just as much as we do.
Mark 3: 20-27
At that time Jesus returned to the house with the Twelve and again the crowd assembled making it impossible for them to get any food whatever. When his family heard of this they came to take charge of him, saying, “He is out of his mind”; while the scribes who arrived from Jerusalem asserted, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,: and “He expels demons with the help of the prince of demons.” Summoning the scribes, Jesus then began to speak to them by the way of examples: “How can Satan expel Satan? If a kingdom is torn by civil strife, that kingdom cannot last. If a household is divided according to loyalties, that household will not survive. Similarly, if Satan has suffered mutiny in his ranks and is torn by dissension, he cannot endure; he is finished. No one can enter a strong man’s house and despoil his property unless he has first put him under restraint. Only then can he plunder the house.”
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Tuesday, August 13 –
