Holy Apostle Thomas (1st c.).
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “O All-Hymned Mother.”
St. Cindeus of Cyprus, monk. Virgin-martyr Faith at Agen (Gaul) (3rd c.). New Monk-martyr Macarius of St. Anne’s Skete, Mt. Athos, at Prusa in Bithynia (1590).
Saturday. [II Cor. 1:8-11; Luke 5:27-32]
I came not to call the righteous,
but sinners to repentance. What a consolation for
sinners! But it is necessary to leave sins and do only
good; and when doing good, to continue to call oneself a
sinner not only on the tongue, but in the heart. Do not
sin, but as a true sinner repent and call to the Lord for
forgiveness. When you will be disposed in such a way, it
means that you stand in the truth; as soon as you give way
to self-righteousness and start considering yourself
sinless, know, that you are turning aside from the right
path and have headed toward those for whom there is no
salvation. How we can combine a proper life with feelings
of sinfulness is something only scribes ask. They write,
but do not do. For the one who follows the path of action
this is so clear that he cannot understand how it could be
any other way.