Martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius, and Orestes, at Sebaste (284-305). Virgin-martyr Lucy (Lucia) of Syracuse (304).
St. Arsenius of Mt. Latros (11th c.). St. Arcadius, monk, of Novotorzhok (1077). St. Mardarius, recluse, of the Kiev Caves (13th c.). St. Dositheus, metropolitan of Moldavia (1693).
St. Herman, Wonderworker of Alaska (1836). St. Columba of Terryglass and Holy Island on Lough Derg (Ireland) (549). St. Aubertus, bishop (Neth.) (668). St. Odilia, virgin and abbess, of Alsace (Gaul) (720). St. Gabriel, patriarch of Serbia (1659).
Repose of Schemamonk Panteleimon “the Resurrected,” of Glinsk Hermitage (1895), Blessed Maximus of Ustiug (1906), Bishop Theodore, wonderworker of Trolov Convent in Kiev (1924), Hieromonk Joel of Valaam (1937), and Archimandrite Gerasim Iscu of Tismana Monastery (Romania) (1951).
Monday. [Heb. 8:7-13; Mark 8:11-21]
The Lord and the disciples sailed to
the other side of the sea. The disciples had forgotten to
bring bread; they had with them only one loaf, and were
beginning to wonder what they should do. Knowing their
thoughts, the Lord reminded them about the filling of the
four thousand, and then five thousand people, thus
uplifting them to the firm hope that with Him, they will
not die of hunger, though they have not a single loaf of
bread. How much anxiety people get from thoughts about an
unknown future! There is only one relief from this
anxiety—hope in the Lord; a sensible examination of
what has already occurred with us and with others enlivens
and strengthens. There is not a single person to be found
who has never in his life experienced some unexpected
deliverance from misfortune, or unexpected turns of his
life for the better. Revive your soul with remembrance
about these instances when gloomy thoughts begin to weary
it about what to do. God will arrange everything for the
better now, as before. Rely upon Him. He will send you
good humor even before your deliverance, and you will not
even notice your misfortune. Mercy shall encircle him
that hopeth in the Lord (Ps. 31:10) Examine
experiences of this in holy Scripture, in the lives of
saints, in your own life, and in the lives of your
acquaintances, and you will see, like in a mirror, how
The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him
(Ps. 144:19). Then fears about your fate will not trouble
your soul.