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| Old Style
February 6
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Friday |
New Style
February 19
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38th Week after Pentecost.
Tone 4.
Fast Day. |
 Fish, wine and oil allowed.
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St. Bucolus, bishop of Smyrna (ca. 100).
Virgin-martyr Dorothea, and with her Martyrs Christina and Callista, sisters, and Theophilus, at Caesarea in Cappadocia (288-300). Virgin-martyr Fausta, and with her Martyrs Evilasius and Maximus, at Cyzicus (305-311). Martyr Julian of Emesa (312). Sts. Barsanuphius the Great and John the Prophet, monks of Gaza (6th c.). St. Photius, patriarch of Constantinople (891). Virgin-martyrs Martha and Mary and their brother Lycarion at Tanis (Hermopolis) in Egypt. St. Dorothea, schemanun, of Kashin (1629).
New Hieromartyr Basil Nadezhnin, priest, of Moscow (1930).
St. James, ascetic, of Syria (ca. 460). St. Mael, bishop of Ardagh (488), disciple of St. Patrick. St. Vedast, bishop of Arras (540). St. John of Thebes, monk of Palestine (6th c.) St. Amand, apostle of Maastricht (675). St. Arsenius of Iqalto, Georgia (1127).
Repose of Archbishop Theophan (Bystrov) of Poltava (1940).
Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
According to the Daily Church Readings from the Word of God
By St. Theophan the Recluse
Friday. [II Pet. 1:1–10; Mark 13:1–8]
Having enumerated the virtues which we must seek with all diligence, having received grace-filled power, the Apostle says by way of encouragement, If these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Pet. 1:8). The virtues to which he refers here were mentioned in I Pet. 2:21–3:9. Now we shall add only that we are required to manifest these virtues not just once, but rather to make them always abide in us, to be part of our essence, to take root in us. Thus, they must not remain on one level, but ever multiply and grow in strength and fruitfulness. Only then, he says, will you not be barren and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Pet. 1:8). He who believes in Him and confesses Him enters into the knowledge of the Lord. “You believe?” says the Apostle! See then, that your faith be not barren and unfruitful. What should I do, so that my faith will not be that way? Prosper in every virtue. Where are those who repeat over and over that believing is enough: that nothing more is needed?! Whoever thinks this way is blind.