Today’s Scripture (at OCA)

Today’s Saints (at OCA)

Orthodox Word Podcast

Today is the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee.

Kontakion - Tone 4

Let us flee
from the pride of the Pharisee!
And learn humility
from the Publican’s tears!
Let us cry to our Savior,

have mercy on us, only merciful One!

More on the Publican and Pharisee here. 

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Today is also the feast of St. Ephraim the Syrian.

Troparion - Tone 8

By a flood of tears you made the desert fertile,
And your longing for God brought forth fruits in abundance.
By the radiance of miracles you illumined the whole universe.
O our holy father Ephraim, pray to Christ our God to save our souls!

Kontakion - Tone 2

O holy father Ephraim,
As you meditated constantly on the final judgment,
You shed abundant tears of sorrow,
Making your struggles examples that we could follow and imitate,
And awakening the slothful to repentance:
You are indeed a father of high renown.

~*~*~ 

Close Friends 

Blessed is the person who has consented to become the close friend of faith and of prayer.

~ St. Ephraim

(more at OrthodoxWiki) 

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The Prayer of St. Ephraim

O Lord and Master of my life,
Do not permit me the spirit of laziness, despair,
lust of power, and idle talk.
But give, rather, the spirit of chastity, humility,
patience, and love to Your servant.
O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions
and not to judge my brother,
for blessed are You unto ages of ages. Amen.

This is the quintessential prayer of Great Lent. For commentary from Fr. Schmemann and other Fathers:

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3
• Part 4
• Part 5