“Ephrem and the Prostitute”

“Another time, when Ephrem was on the road, a prostitute tried by her flatteries, if not to lead him to shameful intercourse, at least to make him angry, for no one had ever seen him angry. He said to her, ‘Follow me.’ When they had reached a very crowded place, he said to her, ‘In this place, come, do what you desire.’ But she, seeing the crowd, said to him, "‘How can we do what we want to do in front of so great a crowd without being ashamed?’ He replied, ‘If you blush before men, how much more should we blush before God, who knows what is hidden in darkness?’ She was covered with shame and went away without having achieved anything.”

The Sayings of the Desert Fathers

other news (phillip’s fast)

Phillip’s Fast begins November 15th. This is a small lent before the Nativity of Our Lord. While it is not widely observed here anymore, this is traditionally the time we pray and fast to prepare for the Nativity of our Lord. Today, it can also be used as a time to pray for the Church as a whole, as we experience great turmoil.

Twenty-second sunday after pentecost

Icon of Raising the Daughter of Jairus