Martyrs Florus and Laurus, of Illyria (2nd c.).
Martyrs Hermes, Serapion, and Polyaenus, of Rome (2nd c.). Hieromartyr Emilian, bishop of Trebia in Umbria, and Martyrs Hilarion, Dionysius, Hermippus, and others (about 1,000), in Italy (ca. 300). Sts. John (674) and George (683), patriarchs of Constantinople. St. Macarius, abbot of the Pelecete Monastery (Bithynia) (840). Repose of St. John, founder of Rila Monastery (Bulgaria) (946).
New Hieromartyrs Augustine, archimandrite, of Orans Monastery, and Nicholas, archpriest, of Nizhni- Novgorod, and 15 people with them (1918).
St. Christodulus the Philosopher, called “the Ossetian,” of Georgia (12th c.). St. Barnabas and his nephew St. Sophronius, monks, of Mt. Mela near Trebizond (13th c.). St. Christopher, abbot, of Mt. Mela Monastery (1694). New Monk-martyr Demetrius the Vlach, of Samarina (Pindos), at Ioannina (1808). St. Sophronius of St. Anne’s Skete, Mt. Athos (18th c.). Martyr Juliana, near Strobilus. Martyr Leo, drowned near Myra in Lycia.
Repose of Schemamonk Nicholas “the Turk,” of Optina Skete (1893).
Monday. [II Cor. 8:7-15; Mark 3:6-12]
The Lord forbade both people and demons
to praise Him when he was on the earth, but required that
they believe in Him and fulfil God’s commandments.
The same law is with the Lord now, and will be at the
judgment: “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord,
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that
doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven”
(Matt. 7:21). This is why in church the [doxology] begins
with, “Glory to God in the highest,” and
toward the end it says, “heal my soul…teach
me to do Thy will.” Without this, praise of God has
no worth. For then it does not proceed from the soul, but
is only sent up from the tongue in alien words, and that
is why the Lord pays no attention to it. One must arrange
things so that others see our deeds and praise the Lord,
so that our life will be praise to God, for He acts all in
all, if only you do not hinder; it is to Him that praise
for one’s deeds ascends. Each person must become the
fragrance of Christ; then even without praise there will
be unceasing glorification of the Lord. The flower of a
rose does not utter a voice, but its fragrance spreads far
in silence; this is how all Christians ought to
live.