Prophet Jonah (8th c. b.c.). Hieromartyr Phocas, bishop of Sinope (117). St. Jonah the Presbyter (9th c.), father of Sts. Theophanes the Hymnographer and Theodore Graptus. Blessed Parasceva (“Pasha of Sarov”), fool-for-Christ, of Diveyevo (1915).
Martyr Phocas the Gardener, of Sinope (320). St. Peter of Constantinople, tax collector in Africa (6th c.). St. Jonah, founder of the Yashezersk Annunciation Monastery (Karelia) (1589-1592). St. Macarius, founder of Zhabyn Monastery (Belev) (1623). Hieromartyr Theodosius of Brazi Monastery, metropolitan of Moldavia (1694). Synaxis of the Saints of Tula.
New Hieromartyr Benjamin (Voskresensky), bishop of Romanov (1931).
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “She Who Is Quick to Hear.”
Martyrs Maurice and the Theban Legion, including the officers Candidus and Exuperius, at Agaunum (Gaul) (ca. 287). Hieromartyr Emmeram, bishop in Gaul, at Regensburg (Bavaria) (652). 26 Martyrs of Zographou Monastery, Mt. Athos, martyred by the Latins (see October 10th) (1284). St. Cosmas, desert-dweller of Zographou, Mt. Athos (1323).
Repose of Abbot Innocent of Valaam (1828).
Monday. [Eph. 4:25-32; Luke 3:19-22]
Herod is an image of self-love,
irritated by his troubled conscience, reproached by the
truth; self-love seeks to escape this unpleasantness by
applying force. John the Forerunner is an image of the
truth persecuted by another’s self-love, when this
self-love is able to do so. No matter how one softens the
truth with all the soft words and turns of speech that
tender love can invent, not desiring to injure or wound
another’s heart, the face of truth will nevertheless
appear before the eyes of the conscience, and stir up a
tempest of denunciation within. Selfishness is
near-sighted, it cannot see that the denunciation is not
coming from without but from within, and it rises up with
all of its strength against the external accuser. By
blocking his lips, this selfishness expects to silence the
inner voice as well. It does not succeed, however; it does
not direct its concern in the right direction. One must
pacify the conscience; then, no matter how many external
accusers there will be, they will not disturb the inner
world, but on the contrary only deepen it, compelling one
to gather calming convictions within—faith in the
crucified Lord, sincerity of repentance and confession,
and firmness in the resolution to do nothing against
one’s conscience. This is where one must look, and
not keep putting all Johns into prison; for the word of
God’s truth walks everywhere upon the earth, and
each one is an accusing John to you.