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| Tone 6. |  Fast-free period.
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Hieromartyrs Pamphilus, priest and Valens, deacon, and Martyrs Paul, Seleucus, Porphyrius, Julian, Theodulus, Elias, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Samuel, and Daniel, at Caesarea in Palestine (308-309). St. Macarius (Nevsky), metropolitan of Moscow, apostle to the Altai (1926).
St. Maruthas, bishop of Sophene and Martyropolis, and the Martyrs of Persia, whose relics rest in Martyropolis (4th c.). St. Basil Gryaznov of Pavlovo-Posadsky (1869).
St. Mary the New, of Byzia in Thrace (9th c.). New Monkmartyr Romanus of Carpenision and Kapsokalyvia, at Constantinople (1694). St. Flavian the Confessor, archbishop of Constantinople (ca. 449) (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
Monday (35th). [I John 2:18–3:10; Mark 11:1–11]
Yesterday the parable about the prodigal son invited us to return from dissipation to the good path. Now the holy Apostle John inspires us for this, giving assurance that if we do this, when the Lord appears, we will be like Him. What can compare with such a dignity?! I should think that upon hearing this, you would be filled with a desire to attain this for yourself. It is a good and most importantly needful thing! Do not delay undertaking that through which it is attained. Read further: every man that hath this hope in Him, purifies himself, even as He is pure (I John 3:3). Is there anything within you in need of purifying? Of course—no small amount of things will be found. Make haste: for where the Lord is, no thing that defileth shall enter in (cf. Rev. 21–27). But do not be taken aback by the difficulty of this matter. The Lord Himself will be your helper in all things. Simply desire it wholeheartedly and turn to the Lord for His much needed help. His grace-filled strength will stream into your effort, and things will go easily and successfully. As there is no sin that can overcome the mercy of God, so there is no moral uncleanness which could resist the grace-filled strength that consumes it. Only on your part, let there be a lack of desire for this uncleanness, an earnest effort to repulse it, and your refuge in faith with the Lord.