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| 6th Week after Pascha. Tone 5. |  Fast-free period.
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Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian (98-117). 
St. Arsenius the Great, of Scetis (449-450).
St. Pimen the Faster, of the Far Caves in Kiev (12th c.). St. Arsenius the Lover of Labor, of the Kiev Caves (14th c.) Sts. Zosima and Adrian, of Volokolamsk, founders of the Sestrinsk Monastery (15th c.-16th c). Translation of the relics of St. Arsenius of Novgorod, fool-for-Christ (1785).
St. Hierax of Egypt (5th c.). St. Iduberga, foundress of Nivelles (Neth.) (652). Sts. Wiro (710) and Plechelm (730), missionary bishops, and Otger, deacon (8th c.), in the Maas Valley at Limburg (Neth.). St. Macarius of Ghent, archbishop (1012). St. Emilia (375) (Gr. Cal), mother of Sts. Macrina, Basil the Great, Naucratius, Peter of Sebaste, and Gregory of Nyssa (Gr. Cal). Repose of Hieroschemamonk Michael of Valaam, confessor for the Orthodox Calendar (1934).
Commemoration of the healing of the blinded Stephen by the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Cassiopia.)
Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
According to the Daily Church Readings from the Word of God
By St. Theophan the Recluse
Thursday. Ascension. [Acts 1:1–12; Luke 24:36–53]
Saint Paul expresses the power of the Lord’s Ascension in this manner: When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men (Eph. 4:8). Having satisfied God’s righteousness, the Lord opened for us all the treasures of God’s goodness. This is indeed a capturing or taking of spoils after victory. The beginning of the distribution of these spoils to people is the descent of the Holy Spirit, Who, having descended, always abides in the Church and gives everyone that which he needs, receiving all from that captive captivity (cf. Eph 4:8). Come everyone and take. But prepare for yourself guardian of that treasure, which is a pure heart; have hands to take it, which is unreflecting faith. Then step forth searching hopefully, and praying relentlessly.