Christians, remember what God is, and that He looks not only on your works, but also on your very thoughts and intentions, and that you are not able to hide anywhere or anything from Him.

"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread" (1 Corinthians 10:15-17).

Today begins the Apostles Fast for Orthodox Christians throughout the world. The fast of the Holy Apostles is very ancient, dating back to the first centuries of Christianity. The oldest testimony regarding the Apostles Fast is given to us by Athanasius the Great (+373 A.D.).

Our Savior Jesus Christ said this saying, "One thing is needful" (Luke 10:42) to us all, O Christians! Many Christians trouble themselves and take care of one thing or another, but they themselves often do not know for what they trouble themselves. The Lord warns us of this useless care and says to all, "One thing is needful." What is it? Eternal salvation.

Every major feast has its Apodosis (Leavetaking). Why? The main reason is that the Church once again gives us the opportunity to celebrate the beauty of the feast. When we see or experience something beautiful, it is human nature to desire to have that experienced again. The feasts of Christ and the Theotokos are a sweetness to the soul which arouses the desire to celebrate more than once.

The Holy Apostle Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Great Apostles. It is generally agreed that Bartholomew and Nathaniel are one and the same person. He was a companion of the Holy Apostle Philip and his sister, the virgin Mariamna -- and for some time of Saint John the Theologian -- preaching the Gospel in Asia, then in India and finally in Armenia, where he died a martyr. In Hierapolis, the Holy Apostles by their prayers killed a great snake that had been kept in a temple and deified by the pagans. In this same town, they restored the sight of one Stachius, who had been blind for 40 years.