Martyr Basiliscus the Soldier, of Comana (308). St. John Vladimir, martyr and ruler of Serbia, whose relics are at Elbasan (1015). Blessed James of Borovichi (Novgorod) (ca. 1540).
Commemoration of the Second Ecumenical Council (381).
New Hieromartyr Maxim (Zhizhilenko), bishop of Serpukhov (1931). New Hieromartyr Michael Borisov, archpriest, of Uglich (1942).
Righteous Melchizedek, king of Salem (ca. 2000 b.c.). Hieromartyrs Donatus, bishop of Thmuis, the priest Macarius, and the deacon Theodore (ca. 316). New Hieromartyr Zachariah, priest of Prusa (1802). New Monk-martyr Paul of Mt. Athos, at Tripolis, the Peloponnese (1818). Martyr Sophia the Healer.
Repose of Eldress Macrina of Volos (1995).
Thursday. [Acts 25:13–19; John 16:23–33]
Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will
give it you (John 16:23) the Lord said, even
confirming the point: Verily, verily, I say unto
you. What a shame for us that we do not know how to
make use of such a true promise! It would be alright if
were only the shame this causes; but a shadow is cast also
over the promise itself, as though it were too great and
impossible. No, the guilt lies entirely on us, mainly
because we recognize that we are not faithful servants of
Christ, and our conscience does not allow us to expect
mercy from the Lord. In addition it happens that if
someone starts asking God about something, he does it with
divided soul: he mentions that thing in his prayer once or
twice as if in passing—and drops it, and then says
later: “God does not hear.” No, when asking
for something in particular, one must be persistent and
indefatigable in prayer, like the widow who forced even
the heartless judge to satisfy her petition by simply not
giving him any peace. When true men of prayer ask for
something in prayer, they unite with it fasting, vigil,
all sorts of deprivation, and charity; furthermore they
ask not for a day or two, but for months and years. For
this they receive it. Imitate them, if you desire to have
success in prayer.