Holy Apostle James, the Brother of the Lord (63) (ca. 63). Translation of the relics of Blessed James of Borovichi (Novgorod) (1544).
St. Ignatius, patriarch of Constantinople (877-878). St. Elisha of Lavrishevo, Belorussia (1250).
New Hieromartyrs Eusebius (Rozhdestvensky), archbishop of Shadrinsk, and Vladimir Ambartsumov, priest, of Moscow (1937).
St. Petronius of Egypt, disciple of St. Pachomius the Great (346). St. Oda of Amay, foundress of churches (Neth.) (723). St. Nicephorus of Charsianos, Constantinople. St. Macarius the Roman, of Mesopotamia.
Thursday. [Col. 4:2-9; Luke 9:49-56]
How should one relate to unbelievers who do not
confess the Lord? The same way as the Lord related to the
village that did not receive Him. Youthful zeal, full of
heat, would want to send down fire from heaven on them;
but the Lord Himself restrains it: Ye know not what
manner of spirit ye are of… The Lord and
Saviour did not do anything to those who did not receive
Him, though receiving Him is what salvation itself
consists of; but passing them by, He went to another
village, leaving them to themselves. The same applies now:
let unbelievers go their way, and believers go theirs. God
exists, Who will sort everyone out in good time. It is
necessary to pity and pray for them; one must desire that
they know the truth and try to find opportunities to hint
to them about it; but when they openly start attacking the
truth, give them a rebuff which is loving and yet brings
them to their senses—and that is enough.