CATECHESIS & DAILY INSPIRATION
THE SYNAXIS OF THE HOLY, GLORIOUS
AND ALL-PRAISED TWELVE APOSTLES
Reflections and Daily Inspiration
“We ought to have the most lively spiritual union with the heavenly inhabitants, with all the saints, apostles, prophets, martyrs, prelates, venerable and righteous men, as they are all members of one single body, The Church of Christ, to which we sinners also belong, and the living Head of which is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. This is why we call upon them in prayer, converse with them, thank and praise them, It is urgently necessary for all Christians to be in union with them, if they desire to make Christian progress; for the saints are our friends, our guides to salvation, who pray and intercede for us.”

- St. John of Kronstadt
TODAY'S RECOMMENDATION
The Feast of the Apostles

An Apostle is one who is sent out by our Lord Jesus Christ to spread the gospel that he is the Messiah, that he is risen, and that we are being saved as a result. The word apostle comes from the Greek αποστολος, literally meaning "one who is sent out." Originally a military term referring to a sortie sent out against the enemy, apostle has in the Christian context come to refer to a missionary spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Source: Trisagion Films
FROM THE NEWS
Encyclical from His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros and the Holy Eparchial Synod on Hagia Sophia

Holy Wisdom, Arise! – Ἁγία Σοφία, Ὀρθοί!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We, the Members of the Holy Eparchial Synod of Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, under the presidency of His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, write to you in the power of the Holy Spirt in these anguished days when the Great Church of Christ, the Patriarchal Cathedral of Holy Wisdom, Ἁγία Σοφία, institutionalized for the past ninety years as a museum and world cultural monument, has been re-converted into a mosque. This egregious and unnecessary action has gravely wounded all Orthodox Christians, indeed all Christians around the world and all people of faith and good will.
Read entire Encyclical at:
SAINT OF THE DAY

 JULY 13 / JUNE 30
The Synaxis of the Holy, Glorious, and All-praised Twelve Apostles

Even though each of the Twelve Great Apostles has his own particular feast day during the year, the Church has set aside this day as a general feast of all the apostles together, and Paul with them. These are the names and the separate feast days of the Holy Twelve:

Peter, †June 29 and January 16
Andrew, †November 30
James the Son of Zebedee, †April 30
John the Theologian, †September 26 and May 8
Philip, †November 14
Bartholomew, †June 11 and August 25
Thomas, †October 6
Matthew the Evangelist, †November 16
James the Son of Alphaeus, †October 9
Thaddaeus or Jude the Brother of James, †June 19 '
Simon the Zealot , †May 10
Matthias, †August 9
Paul , †June 29

Let us also recall how each of these, the most holy and selfless men in the history of the world, ended his earthly life:

Peter was crucified upside down. Andrew was crucified. James the son of Zebedee was beheaded. John the Theologian reposed in a miraculous manner. Philip was crucified. Bartholomew was crucified, flayed and beheaded. Thomas was pierced with five spears. Matthew the Evangelist was burned alive. James the son of Alphaeus was crucified. Thaddaeus or Jude the Brother of James was crucified. Simon the Zealot was crucified. Matthias was stoned and then beheaded after death. Paul was beheaded.