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Tuesday |
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November 20
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| 26th Week after Pentecost. Tone 8. |  No fast.
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Holy 33 Martyrs of Melitene: Hieron, Hesychius, Nicander, Athanasius, Mamas, Barachius, Callinicus, Theogenes, Nicon, Longinus, Theodore, Valerius, Xanthius, Theodulus, Callimachus, Eugene, Theodochus, Ostrychius, Epiphanius, Maximian, Ducitius, Claudian, Theophilus, Gigantius, Dorotheus, Theodotus, Castrychius, Anicletus, Theomelius, Eutychius, Hilarion, Diodotus, and Amonitus (290). St. Lazarus the Wonderworker, of Mt. Galesion near Ephesus (1054).
Martyr Theodotus of Ancyra (303). Martyrs Melasippus, Cassina, their son Antoninus, and 40 children converted by their martyrdom, at Ancyra (363). St. Zosimas, founder of the Annunciation Monastery at Lake Vorbozoma (1550). Translation of the relics of St. Cyril, founder of Novoezersk Monastery (Novgorod) (1649). Martyrs Auctus, Taurion, and Thessalonica, at Amphipolis in Macedonia. St. Willibrord (Clement), archbishop of Utrecht, apostle of Frisia (739).
New Hieromartyrs Cyril (Smirnov), metropolitan of Kazan (1937), Michael Gusev, archpriest, of Diveyevo (1937), and Joseph (Petrovykh), metropolitan of Petrograd (1937).
St. Gregory, brother of St. Gregory the Wonderworker (3rd c.). Martyr Alexander of Thessalonica (ca. 305).
Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
According to the Daily Church Readings from the Word of God
By St. Theophan the Recluse
Wednesday. [II Thess. 2:1-12; Luke 12:48-59]
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. What is the reason? Those who believe in the Lord are filled with an entirely different spirit, contrary to that which reigned in people before His coming; that is why they cannot get along together. The pagan world pursued exclusively worldly and earthly interests. The Jews at least had indications of higher good things, but towards the end they inclined toward the path of the pagans. The Lord, coming to the world, showed people other treasures, outside of the family, outside of society, and awakened other aspirations. Those who accepted His teaching naturally established a way of life different from before, for which they were subjected to hostility, oppression, and persecutions. This is the division. The Apostle Paul then said that all desiring to live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (II Tim. 3–12). So it was and so it is. When worldly and earthly interests begin to prevail in society, then society looks unfavourably at those who display other, unearthly strivings; it cannot even understand how it is possible to be interested in such things. People cannot stand those who serve as representatives of a way of life which is not similar to their life. This is happening now before everyone’s eyes. Is this not a sign of the times?…
Tuesday. [II Thess. 1:10-2:2; Luke 12:42-48]
The parable about the steward shows how a Christian should behave with relation to worldly things. A steward diligently does his work, but in his heart he is not attached to anything, he is free from all bonds, he relates to everything outwardly. So also must a Christian be in relation to all worldly things. But is this possible? It is possible. As there exists outward piety without inner piety, so worldliness which is only outward is possible without inner bonds. But in such a case, will everything around us turn into a single lifeless form, emitting coldness like a marble statue? No; in the midst of worldly things another life will develop which is more attractive than the fullest worldliness. Worldly things, being worldly things, truly will remain as the form, while that which warms the heart will start to proceed from another source, and whosoever drinketh from this source will no longer thirst. But then, is it better to drop everything? Why? Even one who outwardly drops everything can still be attached in his heart, and one who does not outwardly drop everything can be free from bonds. Of course it is more convenient for one who outwardly renounces everything to control his heart. Choose what is more convenient for you; just be disposed as the Lord commands.