St. Nicetas the Confessor, abbot, of Medikion (824).
Martyrs Elpidephorus, Dius, Bithonius, and Galycus (3rd c.). Virgin-martyr Theodosia of Tyre (307-308). St. Illyrius, monk of Mt. Myrsinon in the Peloponnese. St. Nectarius, founder of Bezhetsk Monastery (Tver) (1492).
Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos “The Unfading Flower” and Iveron.
Martyrs Cassius, Philip, and Eutychius, of Thessalonica (304). Martyr Ulphianus of Tyre (306). Martyrs Evagrius, Benignus, Chrestus, Arestus, Kinnudius, Rufus, Patricius, and Zosima, at Tomis in Moesia (ca. 310). St. Fara (Burgundofara) of Eboriac (now Faremoutiers) (7th c.). St. Joseph the Hymnographer, of Sicily (883).
Repose of Elder Amphilochius (Makris) of Patmos (1970).
Monday. [Acts 3:19–26; John 2:1–11]
Repent ye therefore, and be
converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the
times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the
Lord (Acts 3:19). Thus spoke the holy apostle Peter to
the Jews who crucified the Lord, comforting them that they
did it out of ignorance. But we are crucifying the Lord
within ourselves for a second time, not out of ignorance,
but through our sins; but the most merciful one receives
us too when we repent and turn to Him with all of our
heart. We did this during Great Lent. Each came running to
the Lord with tears of repentance over his sins; and the
more sincerely one did this, the more strongly did he feel
the refreshment of forgiveness, proceeding from the face
of the Lord, through the hands and word of absolution of
God’s priest. Now what is left for us to do? To be
on guard against new falls, so that we would not fall
again into the guilt of crucifying the Lord. The Apostle
says that heaven only received the Lord Jesus until the
times of restitution of all things (cf. Acts 3:21). Then
He again will come and set forth judgment. With what eyes
will those who pierced His side look upon Him! Indeed, we
too will have to stand in their ranks if we stop bringing
forth fruits of repentance and return to our old
ways.