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| 6th Sunday of Pascha. Sunday of the Blind Man. Tone 5. |  Fast-free period.
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Virgin-martyr Pelagia of Tarsus in Asia Minor (ca. 290).
Hieromartyr Erasmus, bishop of Formia in Campania, and 20,000 martyrs with him (303). Hieromartyr Olbian, bishop of Anaea, and his disciples, in the province of Asia in Asia Minor (304). Hieromartyr Silvanus of Gaza and with him 40 martyrs (311). Translation of the relics of the Alfanov brothers of Novgorod: Sts. Nicetas, Cyril, Nicephorus, Clement, and Isaac, founders of the Sokolnitzki Monastery (14th c.-15th c.).
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Staraya Russa.” (1570)
Martyrs Florian and 40 companions, at Lorsch, Austria (304). Martyrs Aphrodisius, Leontius, Anthony, Melda (Meles), Valerian, Macrobius, and others, at Scythopolis of Palestine (4th c.). St. Monica of Tagaste (mother of Blessed Augustine) (387). St. Ethelred, king of Mercia and monk (716). St. Nicephorus, abbot and founder of Medikion Monastery (813). St. Athanasius, bishop of Corinth (10th c.-11th c.). St. Nicephorus the Hesychast, of Mt. Athos (1340). 4,000–5,000 New Martyrs of Batak (Bulgaria) (1876). New Hieromartyr Dimitry (Lyubimov), archbishop of Gdov (1935). St. Hilary the Wonderworker (Gr. Cal).
Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
According to the Daily Church Readings from the Word of God
By St. Theophan the Recluse
Sunday of the Blind Man. [Acts 16:16–34; John 9:1–38]
Simplicity of faith argues with crafty unbelief. Faith, coming to the blind man who received sight, enlightened his mind’s eyes, and he clearly saw the truth. See how everything was logical for him. They ask him: what do you say of Him who gave you sight? He is a prophet, he answered, that is the messenger of God, clothed in miracle-working power. An indisputably true conclusion! But learned erudition does not want to see this trueness and seeks to evade its consequences. However, this being impossible, it approaches unlearned simplicity with the suggestion: give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. Simplicity of faith does not know how to connect these concepts—sinfulness and miracle-working, and expresses this openly: Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. What can one say against such deduction? But the logic of the unbelievers is obstinate, and even in the face of obviousness it is not ashamed to affirm that it does not know where he who opened the blind man’s eyes is from. Why herein is a marvellous thing, the sensible logic of faith says to them, that ye know not from whence He is, and yet He hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth His will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, He could do nothing (John 9:17–33). It would seem as though after this nothing remained other than to bow down before the power of such a conclusion. But learned erudition could not stand the sensible logic of faith, and drove it away... Go now, prove the truth of the faith to those whose mind has been corrupted with obstinate unbelief. The unbelievers of all times are cut from the same cloth.