Commemoration of the Miracle of Great-martyr Euphemia the All-praised, of Chalcedon (451). Blessed Equal-to-the-Apostles Olga, princess of Russia, named Helen in holy baptism (969). Uncovering of the relics of Hieromartyr Hilarion, archbishop of Verey (1998).
Hieromartyr Cindeus, priest, of Pamphylia (283-305). St. Arcadius, monk, of Vyazma (ca. 1592).
Martyrs Januarius and Pelagia, of Nicopolis in Armenia (ca. 310). St. Drostan of Old Deer and Aberdeen (Scotland) (6th c.). St. Nicodemus of Hilandar and Vatopedi, Mt. Athos, instructor of St. Gregory Palamas (1320). New Martyr Nicodemus of Elbasan and Mt. Athos (1722). New Monk-martyr Nectarius of St. Anne’s Skete, Mt. Athos, at Vryoulla, Ephesus (1820). St. Cyril, monk, of Paros (1833). New Hieromartyrs Momcilo Grgurevic, Dobroslav Blazenovic, Milan Bozic, Mihailo Djusic, Jovan Zecevic, Bozidar Jovic, Bogdan Lalic, Trifun Maksimovic, Velimir Mijatovic, Bozidar Minic, Miladin Minic, Marko Popovic, Dimitrije Rajanovic, Budimir Sokolovic, Relja Spahic, Lazar Culibrk, Savo Siljac, Savo Skaljka, Milorad Vukojicic, Ratomir Jankovic, Mihailo Jevdjevic, Dusan Prijovic, Dobrosav Sokovic, Nestor Trkulja, Serafim Dzaric, Andrija Siljak, Slobodan Siljak, and Jovan Rapajic, priests, of Serbia (1941-1945). St. Leo, monk, of Mandra.
Repose of cave-dweller Anastasia of St. Cornelius of Padan Hermitage in Olonets (1901).
Friday. [I Cor. 7:35-8:7; Matt. 15:29-31]
Without attentiveness in everyday
affairs you cannot do anything properly; but in spiritual
matters—it comes first. It notices what is bad and
brings it before the inner judge; sets the guard of the
inner chamber, where the best course of action is
discussed, and then protects the one who carries out the
decisions. This is not surprising, because the spiritual
life in its fullness is called a sober life, and in
patristic writings we meet mostly words about soberness or
attentiveness, for they are one and the same. Therefore,
how important it is to make a habit of attentiveness! The
initial labor of those who have begun to be concerned
about their souls is usually directed toward this. And
their work only begins to resemble work from the point
where attentiveness begins to be gathered within
themselves; usually the attentiveness is all external, and
not internal. From this moment the inner life is conceived
and with this attentiveness it ripens and strengthens.
What does this mean? It means standing with the mind in
the heart before the Lord and consciously discussing all,
and undertaking all before His face. This job, obviously,
is complicated. It becomes successful with prayer, and is
as much strengthened by it, as it strengthens prayer
itself.