St. Bucolus, bishop of Smyrna (ca. 100).
Virgin-martyr Dorothea, and with her Martyrs Christina and Callista, sisters, and Theophilus, at Caesarea in Cappadocia (288-300). Virgin-martyr Fausta, and with her Martyrs Evilasius and Maximus, at Cyzicus (305-311). Martyr Julian of Emesa (312). Sts. Barsanuphius the Great and John the Prophet, monks of Gaza (6th c.). St. Photius, patriarch of Constantinople (891). Virgin-martyrs Martha and Mary and their brother Lycarion at Tanis (Hermopolis) in Egypt. St. Dorothea, schemanun, of Kashin (1629).
New Hieromartyr Dimitry Rozhdestvensky, archpriest, of Verny, and his son New Martyr Anatole (1922). New Hieromartyr Basil Nadezhnin, priest, of Moscow (1930).
St. James, ascetic, of Syria (ca. 460). St. Mael, bishop of Ardagh (488), disciple of St. Patrick. St. Vedast, bishop of Arras (540). St. John of Thebes, monk of Palestine (6th c.) St. Amand, apostle of Maastricht (675). St. Arsenius of Iqalto, Georgia (1127).
Repose of Archbishop Theophan (Bystrov) of Poltava (1940).
Friday. [II Pet. 1:1–10; Mark 13:1–8]
Having enumerated the virtues which we must seek with all
diligence, having received grace-filled power, the Apostle
says by way of encouragement, If these things be
in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be
barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ (II Pet. 1:8). The virtues to which he
refers here were mentioned in I Pet. 2:21–3:9. Now
we shall add only that we are required to manifest these
virtues not just once, but rather to make them always
abide in us, to be part of our essence, to take root in
us. Thus, they must not remain on one level, but ever
multiply and grow in strength and fruitfulness. Only then,
he says, will you not be barren and unfruitful in the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Pet. 1:8). He
who believes in Him and confesses Him enters into the
knowledge of the Lord. “You believe?” says the
Apostle! See then, that your faith be not barren and
unfruitful. What should I do, so that my faith will not be
that way? Prosper in every virtue. Where are those who
repeat over and over that believing is enough: that
nothing more is needed?! Whoever thinks this way is blind.