Orthodox Day by Day 1.0.2

This application provides a concise daily reflection specifically designed for Orthodox Christians. However, its applicability extends to anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of traditional Christian spiritual practice.

The daily readings are based on the content of an anonymous work entitled Day by Day, a small book originating from pre-revolutionary Russia, first published in 1908. This valuable material has been translated into English with the hope that it will serve as meaningful daily meditation for a broad audience.

As its title indicates, Day by Day comprises a series of concise spiritual writings corresponding to each day of the year. Each meditation aims to inspire and guide the soul toward a "salvific" Christian life, encouraging the pursuit of a "podvig"—a Russian term describing an act of obedience or effort that surpasses ordinary measure, striving for spiritual excellence.

The translation was undertaken with care by Ludmila (Lucy) Shah, whose passing shortly after completion marked the end of her dedicated effort. Her intention was to make this work accessible to a wider audience and to serve as a spiritual guiding light for Orthodox believers.

The project also reflects the longstanding desire of Father Nicholas (Pekatorsk), a revered Archimandrite in the United States and rector of St. John the Forerunner Cathedral (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia). It was he who provided the original text in Russian, facilitating its translation into English.

Lucy Shah expressed that her motivation for translating this work was her desire for future generations—her children and grandchildren—to access these spiritual teachings in a language they understand. She dedicated her translation to her mother Lydia, her husband Alexander, and their children: Catherine, Anthony Alexander, Mary, and Richard, acknowledging their joy and perspective in her life. She also honored her grandchildren—Stephanie, Christopher, Anna, and Christina—who inspire her and uplift her spirit. For Lucy, their presence reaffirmed the importance of striving toward God's will.

It is our hope that making this content available in a mobile format will facilitate easy daily engagement and make these writings freely accessible to many.

We offer this effort as a humble tribute to the Lord God in memory of Archimandrite Nicholas and Ludmila Shah—whose tireless dedication, especially Ludmila's from her deathbed, has brought this benefit to others.

May their memory be eternal!

It is our prayer that this small seed of faith may yield a bountiful harvest.