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| Old Style
May 18
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Monday |
New Style
May 31
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| 5th Week after Pascha. Tone 4. |  No fast.
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Martyr Theodotus of Ancyra and seven virgin-martyrs: Tecusa, Alexandra, Claudia, Phaine, Euphrasia, Matrona, and Julia (303). Martyrs Peter of Lampsacus and Andrew, Paul, Dionysius, and Christina, at Euridinos (249-251). St. Macarius (Glukharev), archimandrite, of the Altai (1847).
Martyrs Heraclius, Paulinus, and Benedimus, of Athens (250). Martyrs Symeon, Isaac, and Bachthisoes, of Persia (4th c.). Martyrs David and Tarechan, of Georgia (683). St. John Gashkevich, archpriest, of Korma (1917).
Martyr Euphrasia of Nicaea (ca. 303). Hieromartyr Potamon, bishop of Heraclea (341). St. Theodore I, pope of Rome (649). St. Stephen the New, patriarch of Constantinople (893). Elgiva (Aelfgifu), abbess, of Shaftesbury (944). New Hieromartyr Damian Strbac, Jr., priest, of Grahovo, Serbia (1940s). St. Anastaso of Leukadion. St. Martinian, monk, of the Areovinthus quarter, Constantinople.
Repose of Blessed Philip, founder of Gethsemane Caves Skete, St. Sergius Lavra (1869).
Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
According to the Daily Church Readings from the Word of God
By St. Theophan the Recluse
Monday. [Acts 12:12–17; John 8:42–51]
What means, do you think, did the Lord use to explain to the Jews the reason for their not believing in Him? The means he used was to tell them the truth. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not (John 8:45). The lie became, as it is said, their flesh and blood, and made them unable to receive the truth. Why do people not believe today? For the same reason; the Lord speaks the truth; this is why they do not believe. But how can this be? Are they not all scientists, and don’t they talk only about the truth? They have many words, but no deeds. They spin their systems as a spider spins its web, only they don’t notice the flimsiness. The principles of their systems are groundless, and their conclusions cannot be proved; but they are satisfied with them nevertheless. There has become such a demand for hypotheses that it seems they alone make up the entire content of their minds, and this is reputed to be solid education. They apply the fog of their dreams to the few facts they have procured; and these facts appear in this fog totally different from what they are in reality. Nevertheless, this is all reputed to be the sphere of immutable truth. So their mind has gone rotten, and its taste has been ruined! How can it contain the truth? And so they do not believe the Lord, Who speaks only the truth.
Articles
 Hieromartyr Theodotus the Bishop of AncyraThe Holy Martyr Theodotus lived in Ancyra of Galatia in the third century. |
 Martyr Dionysius of Ancyra, who suffered under DeciusDionysius, Nikomachus, and two soldiers, Andrew and Paul, who had been transferred from Mesopotamia, were put on trial. |
 Virginmartyr Christina of Ancyra, who suffered under DeciusSaint Christina suffered under emperor Decius (249-251). |
 Martyrs Heraclius, Paulinus, and Benedimus, of AthensThe Holy Martyrs Heraclius, Paulinus and Benedimus suffered for Christ in the city of Athens. |
