Appearance of the Tikhvin Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (1383). St. David of Thessalonica (540).
St. John, bishop of Gothia in the Crimea (ca. 800). St. Dionysius, archbishop of Suzdal (1385). Uncovering of the relics of St. Tikhon of Lukhov (1569). Translation of the relics of St. Nilus of Stolobny (1995).
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Of Lydda” (1st c.) Icon of the Mother of God “Neamts” (1399). and “Of the Seven Lakes” (Kazan) (17th c.).
St. Brannock (Brynach) of Braunton, England (6th c.). Martyr Pelagius of Cordoba (925). New Martyr David of St. Anne’s Skete, Mt. Athos, at Thessalonica (1813).
Fifth Sunday after Pentacost. [Rom. 10:1-10; Matt.
8:28-9:1]
The Gadarenes saw the Lord’s
wondrous miracle, when He cast out a legion of devils, and
yet, the whole city came out and besought the Lord that
He would depart out of their coasts. We do not observe
them relating hostilely to the Lord, but neither to we
observe any faith in them. They are seized with a sort of
indeterminate fearfulness, making them to desire only that
the Lord pass them by, wherever He wishes, “only do
not touch us.” This is a true image of people who
live in peace with their possessions. An order of things
has formed around them which is not unfavourable; they are
used to it, they have neither thoughts nor the need to
change or reverse anything, and they fear to make a new
step. They feel, however, that should a command come down
from above, the fear of God and their conscience would
force them to renounce the old and accept something new.
Therefore, they strive to avoid any circumstance which
might lead them to such convictions, that they might
continue living quietly in their old habits, pleading
ignorance. These are the sort of people who are afraid to
read the Gospels and patristic books, or to discuss
spiritual matters. They fear that if their conscience be
thereby disturbed, it might wake up and start forcing them
to abandon what they had, and take up something
else.