Holy Wonderworkers and Unmercenaries Cyrus and John, and Martyrs Athanasia and her daughters Theoctista, Theodota, and Eudoxia, at Canopus in Egypt (311). St. Nicetas, recluse of the Kiev Caves, bishop of Novgorod (1108).
Martyrs Victorinus, Victor, Nicephorus, Claudius, Diodorus, Serapion, and Papias, at Corinth (251). Martyr Tryphaenes, at Cyzicus (1st c.)
St. Marcella of Rome (410). St. Athanasius, bishop of Methone (ca. 880). New Monk-martyr Elias (Ardunis), of Mt. Athos and Kalamata (1686). St. Arsenius the New, of Paros (1877).
Repose of Eugene Poselyanin (Pogozhev), spiritual writer (1931), Elder Codratus of Karakallou, Mt. Athos (1940), and Hieroschemamonk Stephen (Ignatenko) of Kislovodsk (1973).
Friday. [II John 1:1–13; Mark 15:22–25,
33–41]
Saint John the Theologian writes,
many deceivers are entered into the world, who
confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the
flesh (II John 1:7). Such it was in his time,
whereas now deceivers enter the world, who confess that
Christ is come in the flesh, but who nevertheless are
“deceivers and antichrists” (cf. II John 1:7).
This more openly began in the time of Arias and continues
to this day. However, the ancient deceivers stumbled more
in the dogma about the person of Jesus Christ our Saviour,
whereas from the time of Luther they began to stumble in
the teaching about salvation in Him. How many such
“teachers” have there been? Such
“deceivers and antichrists” have appeared
among us, who say “believe and it is enough;”
nothing more is needed—neither the Church, nor the
Sacraments, nor the priesthood. These too begin their
deception starting with Christ the Lord and salvation in
Him. But since they do not interpret these correctly, they
are antichrists, and subject to condemnation. Beware of
them. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the
doctrine of Christ hath not God (II John 1:9).
These people do not have Him, because they do not have the
doctrine of Christ. This doctrine is in the Church, and
they have separated themselves from the Church. Only those
who follow the Church have the doctrine of Christ and
abide in it. They therefore have both Christ, the Son of
God, and God the Father. But the others do not, although
they keep saying that they do. Do not receive them,
neither bid them God-speed (cf. II John 1:10).