Spiritual Reading
In addition to the Scriptures and lives of the saints, the reading of spiritual books is extremely important for our lives as Christians.
Constantly inundated by false ideas and suggestive advertising, it is critical that we nourish our souls with Godly material on a daily basis. Spiritual reading is most effective as part of our daily prayer rule, when our hearts are warm and receptive to the guiding of the Holy Spirit.
Saints Remembered Today
In the Orthodox Church there are saints commemorated every day.
The Prologue of Ohrid
One of the most accessible collections of these daily lives of saints is called the Prologue of Ohrid. Each day holds a few brief accounts of the saints remembered, a hymn, a homily, and a spiritual reflection. The Prologue is available in the following formats:
Here is the reading from The Prologue for today:
Holy Apostles Herodion, Agabus, Rufus, Asyncritus, Phlegon and Hermas
All of these are numbered among the Seventy, and all are mentioned in the Epistles of St Paul.
Herodion was a kinsmen of St Paul: ‘Salute Herodion my kinsman’ (Romans 16:11). After many sufferings for the Gospel, he worked with the Apostle Peter in Rome, and was beheaded with him.
Agabus was granted a spirit of prophecy: two of his prophecies are important in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 11:28, 21:11).
Rufus was Bishop of Thebes. ‘Salute Rufus, chosen in the Lord’ (Romans 16:13).
Asyncritus (Romans 16:14) was Bishop of Hyrcania in Asia.
Phlegon, (Romans 16:14) was Bishop of Marathon in Thrace.
Hermas (Romans 16:14) was a bishop in Dalmatia.
Saint Celestine, Pope of Rome (432)
A champion of the Orthodox faith, he sent an epistle to the Third Ecumenical Council, refuting and condemning the Nestorian heresy. He reposed in peace.