St. Theodore the Sanctified, disciple of St. Pachomius the Great (368). Uncovering of the relics of St. Ephraim, founder of Perekom Monastery (Novgorod) (1545).
Hieromartyr Alexander, bishop of Jerusalem (ca. 213-250). Martyrs Vitus (Guy), Modestus, and Crescentia, at Lucania (ca. 303). Blessed child Musa of Rome (5th c.). 44 Monk-martyrs of the monastery of St. Sabbas the Sanctified (614). St. George II, bishop of Mytilene (9th c.). Sts. Cassian (1537) and Lawrence (1548), abbots, of Komel Monastery (Vologda). New Martyr Vukasin of Klepats in Hercegovina (1943) (Серб.). St. Matthew the Wonderworker, hieromonk, of Yaransk (1927).
Hieromartyrs Abdiesus, bishop of Beth-Kashar, and Abdas, bishop of Kashkar, with them 16 priests, 9 deacons, 6 monks, and 7 virgins, in Persia (ca. 418). St. Bardas, founder of the monastery of the Forerunner in Petra, Constantinople (5th c.-6th c.). St. Brendan the Voyager, abbot of Clonfert (ca. 577). Martyr Peter of Blachernae (ca. 761). St. Thomas I, patriarch of Jerusalem (820). St. Nicholas I Mysticus, patriarch of Constantinople (925). New Hieromartyr Theodore, bishop of Vrsac at Banat, Serbia (1594). New Martyr Nicholas of Metsovo, at Trikala (1617). Martyrs Symeon, Isaac, and Bachthisoes, of Persia (339) (Gr. Cal).
Friday. [Acts 27:1–44; John 17:18–26]
As thou, Father, art in me, and I in
Thee, that they also may be one in us...I in them, and
thou in Me (John 17:21–23). This is the golden
chain tying us with Divinity! We have fallen
away—the Mediator has arisen, Who is one with God
the Father, and has become one with us. Becoming one with
Him, we are united in Him, and through Him with God the
Father. Glory to Thy boundless mercy toward us, O
Three-Hypostatic God, Who was well-pleased to establish
for us such a bright path to deification! The Lord raises
us up high; do not refuse His good gift. Confess His mercy
and praise His unspeakable goodness! You think it humble
to refuse such a height, but you are actually revealing
crude ingratitude and carelessness toward a lofty gift.
Know, that there is no middle ground: it is either all or
nothing. If you do not want this height, you will remain
outside in bitter abasement, both temporally and
eternally.