Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom (Synaxsis Feb 12/ Jan 30) appeared to St John, the Bishop of Euchaita in 1084, declaring their equality before God. They told him that all disputes should stop and that their common commemoration should be celebrated on a single day. “There are no divisions among us, and no opposition to one another.”

"Torch-bearers of the triune Godhead, sweetly-flowing rivers of wisdom, filling all creation with springs of heavenly knowledge, ceaselessly intercede for us before the Holy Trinity!"

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your Word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples: a light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.

+Luke 2:25-32, from the Gospel Reading for The Meeting of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, in the Temple (Feb 2)

"Abba John of the Cells told us this story: 'There was in Egypt a very rich and beautiful courtesan, to whom noble and powerful people came. Now one day she happened to be near the church and she wanted to go in. The sub-deacon, who was standing at the doors, would not allow her to enter saying, 'You are not worthy to enter the house of God, for you are impure.' The Bishop heard the noise of their argument and came out. Then the courtesan said to him, 'He will not let me enter the church.' So the Bishop said to her, 'You are not allowed to enter it, for you are not pure.' She was filled with compunction and said to him, 'Henceforth I will not commit fornication any more.' The bishop said to her, 'If you bring your wealth here, I shall know that you will not commit fornication any more.' She brought her wealth and the bishop burnt it all in the fire. Then she went into the church, weeping and saying, 'If this has happened to me below, what would I not have suffered above?' So she was converted and became a vessel of election.'"

+ Abba John of the Cells

"Abba Agathon said, 'I consider no other labor as difficult as prayer. When we are ready to pray, our spiritual enemies interfere. They understand it is only by making it difficult for us to pray that they can harm us. Other things will meet with success if we keep at it, but labouring at prayer is a war that will continue until we die.'"

During the entire time of his tortures, St. Theodore said repeatedly: "Glory to Thee, my God, glory to Thee!" St. Theodore suffered on February 8, 319 A.D., at three o'clock in the afternoon, and entered into the Kingdom of Christ. St. Theodore is considered the protector of soldiers who call upon him for assistance. His miracle-working relics were translated from Euchaita to Constantinople and interred in the Blachernae church.

St. Peter Damascene (Feb 9) says that we are obligated to give thanks to God for all gifts, and that with patience and hope we are to endure all tribulations and evil circumstances. For all of that God gives us, or permits to befall us, benefits our salvation.

To what do you, my Christian, bow,
When you, O my Christian, venerate the icons?
"Before the Living God, the Creator, I am bowing down,
With all my soul, heart and mind, I bow down to Him.
Mortal am I, and I am unable upon Him to gaze;
Therefore, before His image I bow."
What do you, my Christian, so fervently reverence,
When you kiss the icon, O my Christian?
"I am kissing Christ, God and Savior,
The choirs of angels, the saints and the Mother of God.
Mortal am I, and therefore I am unable to touch them,
But when I kiss their images my heart is at peace."

From the PROLOGUE OF OHRID ☦️ February 11

Today’s complete Prologue reading at
http://mewe.com/join/orthodoxfaith