Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Gabriel. St. Stephen of St. Sabbas Monastery (794).
St. Julian, bishop of Cenomanis (Le Mans) in Gaul (1st c.). Martyr Serapion, under Severus (ca. 205). Martyr Marcian of Iconium (258).
St. Sarah, abbess, of Scetis (370). Sts. Heliophotus, Epaphrodites, Ammon, Auxouthenius, and Euthenius, monks, of Cyprus (5th c.). St. Just, monk, of Cornwall (5th c.). St. Mildred, abbess of Minster Convent in Thanet (ca. 733). St. Ioannicius the New, schemamonk of Muscel (Romania (1638). Synaxis of the Saints of Hilandar, Mt. Athos.
Repose of Constantine Oprisan of Jilava, Romania (1959).
Seventh Sunday After Pentacost. [Rom. 15:1-7; Matt.
9:27-35]
According to your faith be it unto
you, said the Lord to the two blind men, and
immediately their eyes were opened. The greater the faith
is, the greater is the influx of Divine power. Faith is
the receiver, lips, and receptacle of grace. Just as one
person’s lungs are large while another
person’s are small, and the large take in more air,
while the small take in less, so one person has a large
degree of faith, and another a small degree, and one
person’s faith receives more gifts from the Lord,
and another person’s fewer. God is everywhere,
encompasses everything and contains all, and loves to
dwell in human souls. But He does not forcibly enter them,
even though He is Almighty, but enters as if upon
invitation; for He does not want to infringe upon the
power which man has over himself, or infringe upon
man’s right to rule his own house—a right
which He has granted. Whosoever opens himself through
faith, God fills, but whosoever closes himself through
unbelief—God does not enter, though He is near.
Lord! Add to our faith, for faith too is Thy gift. Each of
us should confess: Poor and needy am I (Ps.
69:6).