Damascene Press

06/04/2026

O blessed and divinely inspired father Michael, as is meet, thou hast been vouchsafed to behold the Wellspring of blessings, the Fulfillment of the desire for the uttermost desires, the true Blessedness which all nature truly desireth. O thy beauteous comeliness, O glorious one! Rejoicing therein, thou standest now before Christ as a radiant ­hierarch.

Arrayed in priestly vesture, O God-pleasing father Michael, thou didst hasten to the tribunal of the tyrant and didst offer thyself to Christ; and, adorned with twofold crowns, O blessed one, thou didst look upon the ranks of the hierarchy. O thine ineffable gladness, O all-wise one, in which thou wast truly counted worthy to share, O divinely blessed one.

Bedewed from on high, O divinely wise father Michael, thou didst divinely quench the fire of temptations and didst pass through it unharmed; and, rejoicing, O blessed hieromartyr, thou wast splendidly joined to the holy hierarchs who were before thee. O thine ineffable and radiant habitation wherein Christ hath now caused thee to dwell as an honored hierarch!
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orthodoxprayers.substack.com

06/04/2026

06/03/2026

Illumined by the enlightenment of the all-holy Spirit, thou didst pass by the night of ignorance, O Basiliscus, and through the radiance of sufferings wast shown to be like the sun, splendidly illumining all creation.

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06/03/2026

Today the most glorious city of Moscow is adorned, having received thy wonder-working icon like the radiance of the sun; and, hastening to it and entreating thee, we, O Mistress, cry out thus: O all-wondrous Mistress Theotokos, entreat Christ our God, Who became incarnate through thee, that He deliver this city, and all cities and lands where Christians dwell, unharmed by all the assaults of the enemy, and save thou our souls, in that thou art compassionate.

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orthodoxprayers.substack.com

06/02/2026

O Constantine, thou wast the first emperor among Christians to receive thy scepter from God; for the sign of salvation, which was hidden in the earth, was revealed to thee, whereby thou didst subdue all nations beneath the feet of the Romans, in that thou didst have the life-creating Cross as thine invincible weapon, O blessed one, whereby thou wast brought to our God.

Truly blessed and hallowed is the womb which bore thee, O peace-loving emperor, divinely crowned Constantine, thou joy of Christians, glory of the Romans, wealth and champion of orphans and widows, protection of the lowly, correction of those in confusion and sorrow, and true deliverance of captives.

Wounded by desire and love for Christ, the mother of the all-sweet offspring arrived with haste in holy Sion, at the holy place wherein our Savior was voluntarily crucified for our salvation; and there, taking up the Cross, she cried out, rejoicing: “Glory to Him Who hath given me that for which I hoped!”

June 2, 2026 (Evening Edition): Holy Equals of the Apostles, Emperor Constantine & Empress Helena & Afterfeast of Pentecost

06/02/2026

The Holy Spirit giveth all things: He poureth forth prophecies, ordaineth priests, hath taught wisdom to the unlettered and shown fishermen forth as theologians; and He assembleth the whole council of the Church. O Comforter, Who art consubstantial with the Father and the Son, glory to Thee!

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June 2, 2026 (Morning Edition): Third Day of Pentecost & Saint Thalalæus

06/01/2026

Blessed is the Good and Merciful One Who rejoices over us when we repent and without reproach accepts us with joy according to His love.

Blessed is the Good One Who opens His door to the good that they might enter therein, and also does not lock the door of His goodness to the evil if they are converted.

Blessed is He Who grants everyone the means to inherit the heavenly kingdom: the righteous inherit it through good deeds, and sinners through repentance.

Blessed is He Who for the sake of sinners gave Himself up to death and revilement, Who suffered humiliation in order to grant sinners life.

Blessed is He Who created us according to His loving-kindness, Who descended to save us by the Cross, and Who is to come again to resurrect us in the great day of His coming.

Vouchsafe me also, O Good One, according to Thy goodness, to behold Thy compassion in the day of judgment, and to sing Thee praise together with the righteous unto the ages of ages.

—Saint Ephraim the Syrian (from “A Spiritual Psalter or Reflections on God”)

06/01/2026

Thou didst produce shoots like a fruitful olive-tree, O wise one, stretching forth thy mind to the heights of patience; wherefore, thou hast poured forth the oil of miracles upon the faithful, O martyr Thalalæus.

June 1, 2026 (Evening Edition): Day of the Holy Spirit (Second Day of Pentecost) & Saint Thalalæus

06/01/2026

O Holy Spirit Who proceedest from God, grant holiness unto all who believe on Thee; for Thou art holy and grantest holiness unto men. Wherefore, chanting, we sing: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

As our Benefactor Thou dost generously bestow the gift of goodness upon those who hymn thee, O Comforter; for Thou art generous and an abyss of goodness. Wherefore, chanting, we sing: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

The Spirit is the life-creating Lord, self-motivated and of free will, distributing the ­apportionment of gifts, as He desireth, ­ruling in His own right, unbidden by anyone else, without beginning. Wherefore, chanting, we sing: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

Who doth not marvel at the surpassing magnitude of Thy compassion, O ­unoriginate Word? For for our sake Thou Who art rich didst abase Thyself, and madest Thine abode in the holy Virgin’s womb. Wherefore, chanting, we sing: Let all creation bless the Lord and exalt Him supremely for all ages!

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