Hieromartyr Methodius, bishop of Patara (or Olympus) in Lycia (312). Right-believing Prince Gleb Andreyevich of Vladimir (1175).
Martyrs Inna, Pinna, and Rimma, disciples of Apostle Andrew in Scythia (1st c.-2nd c.). Hieromartyrs Aristocleus, priest, the deacon Demetrian, and the reader Athanasius, at Salamis on Cyprus (ca. 306). St. Leucius the Confessor, bishop of Brindisi (5th c.). St. Minas, bishop of Polotsk (1116). St. Nicholas (Cabasilas) (ca. 1397) (Эллад.). Translation of the relics of St. Gurias, archbishop of Kazan (1630).
Martyrs Paul, Cyriacus, Paula, Felicilana, Thomas, Felix, Martyrius, Vitaly, Crispinus, and Emilius, in Tomis, Moesia (290). Blessed Studius, founder of the Studion Monastery (5th c.). St. Nahum of Ochrid, enlightener of the Bulgarians (910). Translation of the relics and garments of Apostles Luke, Andrew, and Thomas, Prophet Elisha, and Martyr Lazarus to the Church of the Holy Apostles in Constantinople (960). St. Callistus I, patriarch of Constantinople (1363). Finding of the relics of New Hieromartyr Raphael, hieromonk, of Mytilene (1959).
Second Sunday After Pentacost. [Rom. 2:10-16; Matt.
4:18-23]
The Lord called Peter and Andrew, and
immediately, leaving all, they followed Him. He called
James and John, and they also immediately left all and
followed the Lord. Why did they follow Him so quickly and
willingly? Because they saw something better. Such is the
law that we have in our soul, that once it has tasted and
known what is better, it is repulsed by what is worse and
abandons it. Here is accomplished the same thing that
later the Lord described in His parable about the treasure
hid in a field, and about the pearl of great price. The
treasure and the pearl are faith in the Lord and communion
with Him according to the strength of faith. We have
already been declared possessors of this in baptism. Why
do we value this treasure so little, and so exchange it
for barren insignificance? Because we were not brought up
to cultivate a taste for this treasure, and it becomes
foreign to our heart. Our heart does not know this better
thing. It only knows that there is the bad, the very bad,
and the not so bad, and bases its outlook upon this
assessment. Here is the entire reason why the Lord calls
some and they come; but we, the chosen ones, run from
Him.
