St. Cyril, archbishop of Alexandria (444). St. Alexis Mechev, archpriest, of Moscow (1923). St. Cyril, founder of White Lake (Belozersk) Monastery (1427).
Nun-martyrs Thecla, Mariamne, Martha, Mary, and Enmatha, in Persia (346). St. Alexander, founder of the Kushta Monastery (Vologda) (1439). Righteous Cyril of Velsk, or Vazhe (Vologda) (15th c.).
St. Raphael, monk of Old Agapia Monastery (Moldavia) (2005).
Hieromartyr Alexander, bishop of Prusa. St. John of Shavta, bishop of Gaenati (12th-13th c.). St. Columba of Iona (597). St. Baithene, abbot, of Tiree and Iona (600).
Repose of Hieromonk Vitaly of Valaam (1856).
Tuesday. [Rom. 1:1–7, 13–17; Matt.
4:25–5:13]
After the Lord’s baptism, when the Spirit descended
upon Him in the form of a dove, He was brought down into
the wilderness to be tempted. Such is the path common to
all. Saint Issac the Syrian notes in one place that as
soon as you taste grace-filled consolation, or receive
some gift from the Lord—await temptations.
Temptations conceal the brightness of grace from
one’s own eyes which usually consume every good with
self-opinion and self-exultation. These temptations are
sometimes external—sorrows, humiliation; and
internal—passionate thoughts, which purposely are
released, like beasts unchained. Therefore, we must heed
ourselves and strictly sort out what occurs with us and in
us, to see why it is happening, and what obligations it
brings.