20 Jan 2022
Julian calendar:
07 Jan 2022
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+++ Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist John

+++ Synaxis of the Holy Glorious Prophet, Forerunner and Baptist JohnJohn's greatest role during his life was enacted on the day of the Theophany, and because of this the Church has, from the earliest times, dedicated the day following that feast to his memory. This day is also connected with an event involving the hand of the Forerunner. The Evangelist Luke desired to take John's body from Sebaste, where the great prophet had been beheaded by Herod, to Antioch, his own birthplace. He succeeded, though, in acquiring and taking only one hand, which was kept in Antioch till the tenth century. It was then moved to Constantinople, whence it disappeared during the Turkish occupation. St John is commemorated several times during the year, but his greatest feast is on this day, January 7th. Among the Gospel-figures surrounding the Saviour,the person of John the Baptist holds a very special place, by the manner of his birth in this world and of his earthly life, by his role of baptiser of men to repentance and his baptism of the Messiah, and, lastly, by the tragic manner of his departure from this world. He was of such moral purity that he indeed deserved the name 'angel'*, as he was named in the Scriptures, rather than being thought of as just a mortal man. John differs from all the other prophets in that he had the joy of showing forth to the world the One Whom he had foretold. About the hand of St John: it is related that each year, on his feast-day, the archbishop would bring it out before the people. Sometimes the hand appeared open, and sometimes clenched. In the first case it indicated that it would be a fertile year, and in the second that it would be a year of famine. (*The word 'messenger' is, in Greek, 'angelos'. See Malachi 3:1, Matt. 11-10-Tr.)

The Holy Martyr Athanasius

This martyr of Christ was a poor and simple man, but was rich in faith and in wisdom through the Spirit of God. On one occasion he was inadvertently involved in a quarrel with a Turk. The Turk was educated and adroit with words, but Athanasius strove with all his might to present and uphold the truth of the Christian faith and its superiority over Islam. They then parted. On the following day, Athanasius was summoned to trial, and found the Turk standing there as his accuser. When the judge called on Athanasius to repudiate his faith and embrace Islam, as he had given the impression of declaring to his companion of the previous day, Athanasius cried out: 'I would die a thousand deaths before I would deny the Faith of Christ!' He was therefore condemned to death and beheaded in the year 1700. His body was buried in the Church of St Paraskeva in Smyrna, the city of his execution.

January 2022
SunMonTueWedThuFriSut
      Our Holy Father Elias of Murom
1
oil
St Danilo, Archbishop of Serbia
2
oil
The Holy Martyr Themistocies
3
oil
The Holy Martyr Theodota with her three Children
4
oil
Our Holy Father Nahum, the Wonderworker of Ochrid
5
oil
Our Holy Father Nicolas the Soldier
6
oil
+++ The Nativity of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ
7
fast-free
Our Holy Father Constantine of Synnada
8
fast-free
Our Holy Fathers, the Martyrs Theodore and Theophanes the Branded
9
fast-free
The Holy Martyr Domna
10
fast-free
Our Holy Fathers Mark the Gravedigger and Theophilus the Weeper
11
fast-free
Our Holy Father, the Martyr Gideon
12
fast-free
Saint Dositej of Zagreb
13
fast-free
New Martyr Peter  of the Peloponnesos
14
fast-free
Venerable Sylvester of the Kiev Caves
15
fast-free
St Genevieve of Paris
16
fast-free
Venerable Euthymius the New of Thessalonica, monk
17
fast-free
Martyr Theoidus
18
strict fast
+++ The Theophany
19
fast-free
The Holy Martyr Athanasius
20
fast-free
St. Theodore of Constantinople
21
oil
St. Peter, bishop of Sebaste in Armenia
22
fast-free
Blessed Theosebia the Deaconess
23
fast-free
Saint Maire martyr
24
fast-free
Virgin Martyr Euthasia
25
fast-free
Venerable Eleazar of Anzersk Island at Solovki (1656)
26
oil
Martyr Agnes
27
fast-free
The Holy Martyr Pansophius
28
oil
Martyrs Neon, Turbo, and the woman Jonilla (Jovilla), in Cappadocia
29
fast-free
St Anthony of Krasny Kholm
30
fast-free
Venerable Marcian of Cyrrhus in Syria
31
fast-free
     
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Moon phases for January , 2022 (Serbia)
02 Jan 2022 New Moon
09 Jan 2022 First Quarter
17 Jan 2022 Full Moon
25 Jan 2022 Third Quarter