St. Michael the Confessor, metropolitan of Synnada (821).
Uncovering of the relics of St. Leontius, bishop and wonderworker of Rostov (1164).
Synaxis of the Saints of Rostov and Yaroslavl.
Martyr Michael “the Blackrobed,” of St. Sabbas Monastery (9th c.). Virgin Euphrosyne, princess and abbess, of Polotsk (1173). St. Paisius, abbot, of Galich (1460). Uncovering of the relics of St. Abramius, archimandrite, of Rostov (1210).
Holy Myrrh-bearer Mary, wife of Cleopas (1st c.).
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Thou Art the Vineyard.”
Hieromartyrs Epitacius, bishop of Tuy (Spain), and Basil, bishop of Braga (Portugal) (1st c.). St. Synesius, bishop of Carpasia on Cyprus (5th c.). St. Damian (King Demetrius) of Gareji, Georgia (1157). St. Ioannicius I, archbishop of Serbia (1270).
Repose of Hieromonk Damascene of Valaam (1825), Hieroschemamonk Meletius of Svir (1877), disciple of Elder Theodore of Svir, and Nun Euphrosyne (1934), disciple of St. Barsanuphius of Optina.
Wednesday. [Acts 18:22–28; John 12:36–47]
Lord who hath believed our
report? (Is. 53:1), the Prophet Isaiah laments in
astonishment. Now it would be fitting to cry out,
“Who now sincerely believes Thy word, O Lord?”
Almost everyone has become slack. Many are yet silent
about their unbelief; while it is rare to find a heart
that has not turned in the other direction. What is the
reason for this? Interest in unbelief has begun to be
felt; the need for unbelief has developed, for concealing
interests of the heart which do not agree with faith. Here
is the root of evil. Reason is not the adversary of faith,
but a corrupt heart is. Reason is only guilty here in that
it submits to the heart, and begins to
philosophize—not according to the foundations of
truth, but according to the desires of the heart.
Furthermore, powerful arguments for the truth seem
worthless to the mind, and some trifling argument against
the truth becomes a whole mountain. In general, confusion
comes into the mental realm, blinding the mind, which does
not and cannot see, no matter what you tell it.