St. Theodore the Studite | Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

'And so we too, humble wretches, follow their way of life; and that we imitate it our monastic profession bears witness, our denial of the world, estrangement from fatherland, race, friends and intimates, our subjection, our obedience, this present confession, for which we have also been persecuted. Accordingly, let us rejoice and congratulate one another that we have been given these gifts of grace by God, and that we are leading a spiritual life, in which it is always open to us to keep festival every day, should we so wish, and to rejoice with unlimited joy. Therefore I beg you, let us hold mightily to our ascetic practice and this confession, for a word has gone out that the Mighty is keeping an eye on our affairs and doubtless a royal official will suddenly arrive. But don t be scared at what has been said. If God is on our side, who is against us? And if he helped us in the past, how would he not help in the future? Only let us stand nobly, only let us attend without faltering, and he himself will give power to all who lead to the end a life that is well-pleasing to him to gain the kingdom of heaven in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be the glory and the power with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.'


St. Theodore the Studite
Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ