Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles of Kiev

On July 15, we commemorate Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles of Kiev:

Grandson of Saint Olga, Saint Vladimir ascended the throne of Kiev in 980. Though a zealous idolater, he was illumined by the grace of God, accepted the Christian Faith, and completely changed his ways. He was baptized in Cherson in 988, receiving the name Basil; he came forth from the font not only healed of a blindness lately afflicting him, but also from being passionate and warlike, he became meek, peaceable, and exceedingly godly. Whereas his grandmother had refused marriage with the Emperor in Constantinople (see July 11), he married Anna, sister of the Emperors Basil and Constantine, and was accompanied home by priests from Constantinople. Diligently seeking to spread Christianity throughout his realm like a new Constantine, he destroyed the idols (having the chief diety Perun scourged and then cast into the Dnieper River), and summoned all his subjects to Holy Baptism. He reposed in peace in 1015.

Read more at [GOArch.org www.goarch.org/chapel/saints_view?contentid=129&language=en]

The Holy Martyrs Cyricus and His Mother Julitta

On July 15, we commemorate The Holy Martyrs Cyricus and His Mother Julitta:

Saint Julitta was from the city of Iconium. Fearing the persecution of Diocletian, she took her son Cyricus, who was three years old, and departed for Seleucia; but finding the same evil there, she went over to Tarsus in Cilicia, where the ruler arrested her. He took her son from her and tried with flatteries to draw the youth to himself. But the little one, in his childish voice, called on the Name of Christ and kicked the ruler in the belly so hard, that the tyrant became enraged and cast him down the steps of the tribunal. In this manner, the child's head was crushed, and he gave up the spirit. As for his blessed mother, she first endured many torments, and finally was beheaded in the year 296.

Read more at GOArch.org

The Rule of Saint Benedict: Chapter 4

This chapter of the Rule covers good works. Many of my protestant readers may think that Orthodoxy is a works based religion, which is partially accurate; we are a faith based religion that practices faith based works. We don't think that these works will get us into heaven; rather we have faith, and doing works is a result of that faith.

Rational Sheep and the Word of God

The Scriptures tell the story of humanity with a profound sense of language. The first action of God is speech: “Let there be light!” God does not teach man to speak – we can only assume from the Biblical story that humanity and speech exist together from the beginning. God brings the animals to Adam, “to see what he would name them.” Animals could not exist within the human world and not be named. This is not because there is something inherently “nameable” about animals – rather it is human beings who must name. I say that we must name, because it is an instinct:

Read more at Gloy2GodforAllThings

The above paragraph reminds me of a Celtic tradition where they would name things to have power over those things - such as a haunted hill or pass. Once those things were named you could then invoke that name to have power over it.

This tradition also passed to people, who would be given a name at birth, but would later be given names for appearance, or deeds. Oft times the birth name would be kept secret and the honorary name would be used instead.

The Rule of Saint Benedict: Chapter 3

I apologize for the tardiness of this post; I had the whole thing typed up with a nice intro on my Blogger app on my phone. Then it just disappeared. All of those words like I had never written them.

On July 14, we commemorate Our Holy Father Joseph the Confessor, Archbishop of Thessalonica:

Saint Joseph was the brother of Saint Theodore the Studite (see Nov. 11). He also is called Studite, especially when he is mentioned together with his brother. According to Codinus, both of them composed the canons of the Triodion during the reign of Leo the Armenian, while in the Church of Saint Romanus (see Nov. 18); he is not to be confused with Saint Joseph the Hymnographer (Apr. 3). When Saint Joseph became Archbishop of Thessalonica, he was exiled thrice because of his godly zeal for the holy icons, suffering many hardships, imprisonments in dark dungeons, hunger, thirst, and every tribulation, in the midst of which he departed unto eternal life in 833.

Read more at GOArch.org