The Placing of the Precious Robe of the Lord at Moscow (1625) (1625). Holy 45 Martyrs at Nicopolis in Armenia, including Leontius, Maurice, Daniel, Anthony, Alexander, Anicetus, Sisinius, Meneus, Verelad, and Timothy (ca. 319). St. Anthony of the Kiev Caves, founder of monasticism in Russia (1073).
Martyr Apollonius of Sardis (3rd c.). Martyrs Bianor and Silvanus, of Pisidia (4th c.). 10,000 Fathers of the desert and caves of Scetis martyred by the impious Patriarch Theophilus of Alexandria (ca. 398). St. Silouan of the Far Caves in Kiev (13th c.-14th c.). Sts. Eumenius (1920) and Parthenius (1905), restorers of Koudouma Monastery on Crete.
New Hieromartyr Basil Pobedonostsev, archpriest, of Kamensky Zavod (Perm) (1918).
“Konevits” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.
New Hieromartyr Joseph, archpriest, of Damascus, and companions (1860). Synaxis of the Saints of Vatopedi, Mt. Athos. St. Gregory, bishop of Assos, near Ephesus (1150).
Thursday. [I Cor. 7:24-35; Matt. 15:12-21]
Out of the heart proceed evil
thoughts. From whence in the heart? Their root lies in
sin which lives within us, and their branching out,
multiplying and particular appearance in each person come
from that person’s own will. What should one do?
First, cut off all that comes from your will. This will be
like someone tearing off leaves from a tree, cutting off
branches and twigs, and chopping the trunk almost to its
roots. Then, do not allow new sprouts to come up, and the
root itself will dry up; that is, do not allow evil
thoughts to proceed from your heart, and repel and drive
off those that do, and the sin which lives in us, not
receiving sustenance, will slacken and completely grow
weak. In this lies the essence of the commandment: be
sober, be vigilant (1 Peter 5:8). Take heed unto
thyself (1 Tim. 4:6). Gird up the loins of thy
mind 1 Peter 1:13.” Together with attentiveness
one must have discernment. From the heart not only bad
things proceed, but also good things; yet, one should not
fulfil every good thing suggested by the heart. What one
should truly fulfil is determined by discernment.
Discernment is a gardener’s knife; some branches it
cuts off, while others it grafts in.