On this, the 5th Sunday after Pentecost, we commemorate the Holy Glorious Prophet Elijah (in Greek, Elias - 9th c. B.C.), Sts. Elias and Flavius, confessors, patriarchs of Jerusalem and Antioch (518), St. Ethelwida, widow of King Alfred the Great (9th c.), St. Abramius of Galich (1375), the uncovering of the relics of St. Athanasius, abbot of Brest-Litovsk (1649), the Martyr Salome of Jerusalem, who suffered under the Persians (18th c.), St. Elias Chavchavadze of Georgia (1907), Russian New Martyrs Lydia, and with her, soldiers Alexei and Cyril (1928), Priest Philosoph (Ornatsky) and those with him (1918), and Deacon Juvenal (1919).

Through the intercessions of Thy Saints, O Christ God, have mercy on us and save us!

• THIS WEEK: Vespers on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. for the Holy Passion-bearers Boris and Gleb.
• Fr. Benedict and Matushka Anna would like to thank all who helped with the Baby Shower last Sunday! It was great fun (and the food and punch were delicious)!

The following practical tip is taken from The Shepherd, a monthly publication of the St. Edward Brotherhood in Surrey, England. It is addressed to "converts" but it applies to all of us in the Orthodox Faith - for it is not the number of years in the Faith which makes us Orthodox but rather our desire to give first place in our lives to our Lord and Savior. We must all be "converts"!

LEARN! Learn as much, as broadly, and as deeply as you can about your Faith. Very often, and perhaps among those who come to Orthodoxy as adults, we tend to think that in becoming Orthodox we have reached the peak - just as in some ways many people think that getting married is an aim and a goal and one achieved at the wedding ceremony(!), whereas in fact rather than having finalized the matter we have only just begun it. Also having "become Orthodox," many cease to inquire and so their understanding of the Faith remains shallow. After the initial exaltation it becomes lackluster, and people often drift away. So take every opportunity to learn more. Read, for sure: the Scriptures, the lives of the Saints, the writings of the Fathers, commentaries. Ask questions and don't be embarrassed to do so. But take every opportunity to learn in practical ways, too: how to bake prosphora, how to chant, how the services are put together. If you have any gift of talent, find a way to use it for the Church. Ask for help if you have any difficulty or need in doing this. Ask for guidance, too. Do not be ashamed even to learn the simplest of things: the names of the Saints on the icons in the Church for instance, and from that go on to learn about (and from) their lives. Learn to turn to them in prayer. If there is anything that you realize that you do not know, seek to find out. Lose no opportunity to learn. The Savior said: "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 18:3). This, of course, refers to the guilelessness and innocence of children, but we who claim to be "converted," to be "converts," must become like little children in this too, for as little children are always ready and eager to learn and seeking out new things to learn, so must we!

It happened that many times after an exhaustive day of hearing confessions the Elder Epiphanios Theodoropoulos (+1989) would ascend the stairs to his room with great difficulty, holding the railings of the stairs. So, he related to us, "the wicked one would whisper in my ear: 'Now you are tired. Why should you do the Compline (Evening Prayers)? You won't understand anything. You will do it mechanically!' And I would respond: 'If I don't do it at all, the victory will be yours. If, however, I do it even mechanically, half the victory will be mine.' And I would do it."

You must unfailingly approach Holy Communion according to this instruction, namely: approaching the Holy Altar, picture to yourself that in actuality you have become worthy to be at the Last Supper together with Christ and the holy Apostles.

- Elder Nazarius of Valaam

When you go to your spiritual father for Confession, do not bring yourself as an accuser of other people, saying, "He said this," and "So-and-so said that," . . . but speak about your own doings, so that you may obtain forgiveness.

- Elder Daniel of Katounakia

In these days when "road rage" seems to be such a problem, it might do us some good to think about our own attitudes when we drive. As in all other aspects of life, we are not responsible for the behavior of others, but we are responsible for ours, and driving in traffic is not too unlike every other human interchange. Nevertheless, driving, somehow, seems to be able to release in us certain behaviors we otherwise do not manifest, and the most notable of these is, of course, anger.

Since we tend to be alone in driving, we can have some opportunities to look at ourselves and ask ourselves why we react in one way or another, and whether it does or does not conform to behavior expected of a Christian, especially an Orthodox Christian, in the light of the Gospel and our experience of the Savior. And if we are reacting angrily at such times, we might not be surprised to find that it usually is because we are angry about something else; or that, as is so often the case, we have not forgiven someone somehow, and we are consciously or not consciously holding a grudge. Perhaps, in the solitude of the automobile, we have opportunities to see our symptoms, and prayerfully come to a better self-understanding, opening the door to our own ability to forgive, and to be healed in heart.

Recently, I read a parish bulletin which reproduced a report about the Diocese of Voronezh-Lipetsk in Russia. Here, the youth department has involved itself in auto driving schools, and introduces the background of Christian morality into the relationship between drivers and pedestrians, and promotes mutual respect among persons. It also warns against taking God's protection and the work of the guardian angels for granted. As it is reported, and as I have myself seen, in Russia and in Ukraine, already a large number of drivers have both icons and prayers on their dash-boards or visor, and many people have their vehicles of all sorts blessed. For the aid of all, the Voronezh-Lipetsk diocese provides a series of "ten commandments" for drivers, which is offered here, since it is so practical.

- Bishop Seraphim of Canada

1. Always begin a trip with prayer. For Orthodox believers, any business begins with prayer. We have a special prayer in which drivers ask the Lord to preserve them "from the evil spirit of recklessness, from inattention and carelessness, and from the destructive passion of drunkenness," so as to return "whole and serene."
2. Remember that alcohol in the system (and certain drugs) will lead to sad consequences for both person and machine.
3. Never try to shorten the time of a trip. If you started out late, you will arrive late. This commandment can be stated more briefly: never increase speed.
4. Give a wave of thanks to a driver who makes way for you.
5. Apologize to a driver with whom you have interfered, even when you did not intend to. After all, when we are walking, and bump someone, we apologize without thinking. So why should there be a different ethic behind the wheel?
6. Always yield way to someone who is in a great hurry, or is acting aggressively. If you do not yield, he will still pass you, and create a more dangerous situation.
7. Drive a car in such a way that you will be genuinely happy if a police car appears.
8. Stay as far away as possible from cars that have traces of accidents.
9. Never speed up when another driver tries to pass you, or to get into your lane. Even if there is no fine for this, a believer, and a simply conscientious person, never should act like that. What is your motive for it - ambition, pride? Do not treat your neighbor in a way you do not want to be treated.
10. After every trip, thank God for its safe completion. Be thankful after any trip, and not just a successful one. After all, almost always it could have been worse!