Hieromartyr Athenogenes, bishop of Heracleopolis, and his ten disciples (ca. 311).
Martyrs Paul and two sisters, Chionia (Thea) and Alevtina (Valentina), at Caesarea in Palestine (308). Martyr Antiochus, physician, of Sebaste (4th c.). Virgin-martyr Julia of Carthage, at Corsica (ca. 440 или 613). St. Theodotus, monk of Glinsk Hermitage (1859). St. Magdalena, schema-abbess of New Tikhvin Convent in Siberia (1934).
New Confessor Matrona Belyakova, fool-for-Christ, of Anemnyasevo (1936). New Hieromartyrs James (Maskaev), archbishop of Barnaul, and priests Peter and John, and with them Monk-martyr Theodore (Nikitin) and Martyr John (1937). New Hieromartyr Ardalion (Ponamarev), archimandrite, of Kasli (Chelyabinsk) (1938).
Martyr Helier of Jersey (6th c.). New Martyr John of Turnovo (1822). 15,000 Martyrs of Pisidia (Gr. Cal).
Wednesday. [I Cor. 13:4-14:5; Matt. 20:1-16]
In the parable about the hirelings, even he who
worked only one hour was rewarded equally to the others by
the master of the house. The hours of the day in this
parable is an image of the course of our life. The
eleventh hour is the final time in this life. The Lord
shows that even those who lived without working for Him up
to that moment can start to work and please Him no less
than others. Therefore, old age is no excuse; let no one
despair, supposing that there is no point in starting to
work. Start, and do not be cowardly; the Lord is merciful;
He will give you all that He gives others, here, according
to the measure of grace, and there, according to the rank
of truth. Just have more fervour, and grieve more
contritely about the carelessness in which almost all of
your life was spent. You will say, the master of the house
called those in the parable. So, let the Lord call me. But
isn’t He calling? Could it really be that you do not
hear the voice of the Lord in the Church, saying, come
unto Me all ye, and the Apostles’ call, as
though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in
Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God (II Cor.
5:20).