Commemoration of the Apparition of the Sign of the Precious Cross over Jerusalem in a.d. 351 (351). Martyr Acacius the Centurion, at Byzantium (303).
St. John of Zedazeni in Georgia, and 12 disciples: Sts. Shio of Mgvime, David of Gareji, Anthony of Martqopi, Thaddeus of Urbnisi (or Stepantsminda), Stephen of Khirsa, Isidore of Samtavisi, Michael of Ulumbo, Pyrrhus of Breta, Zeno of Iqalto, Jesse (Ise) of Tsilkani, Joseph of Alaverdi, and Abibus of Nekressi (6th c.). Repose of St. Nilus, founder of Sora Skete (Belozersk) (1508). Uncovering of the relics of St. Nilus the Myrrh-gusher, of Mt. Athos (1815). Synaxis of the Saints of St. Panteleimon Monastery (Mt. Athos).
'Lyubech' (11th c.) and 'Zhirovits' (1470) Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos.
St. Lydia of Philippi (1st c.). Uncovering of the relics of St. Euthymius the Great (473). St. Domitianus, bishop of Maastricht (560). St. John of Beverley, bishop of York (721). King Bagrat III of Georgia (1014). New Martyr Pachomius the Russian, of Usaki near Philadelphia (1730). St. John the Confessor, of Psycha on the Bosphorus (ca. 825).
Repose of Monk Nicholas (Boris in schema) of Valaam and Pskov (1969).
Wednesday. [Acts 13:13–24; John 6:5–14]
The disciples told the Lord to send the
multitude away so they could buy themselves food in the
villages; but the Lord said to them: They need not
depart; give ye them to eat (Matt. 14:16). This
preceded the miracle of feeding the five thousand people,
beside women and children, with five loaves of bread and
two fishes. Such an event, which had particular
significance in the life of the Lord, offers also the
following lesson. The multitude is an image of humanity,
hungering and thirsting after the truth. When the Lord
said to the apostles: give ye them to eat, by this
He indicated in advance to them their future service to
the human race—to feed it with the truth. The
apostles did this for their times; in subsequent times
they passed this service on to the pastorate which
succeeded them. The Lord’s words extend to the
present pastorate as well: Give ye them to eat. And
the pastorate should keep this obligation in their
conscience—to feed the people with the truth. In
church there should be unceasing preaching of the word of
God. What sort of pastors are silent pastors? And yet they
are often silent—silent beyond measure. But it is
impossible to say that this has occurred because there is
no faith in their heart. It is just their
misunderstanding, a bad habit. Nevertheless, this is no
justification.