Commemoration of the Miracle of the Weeping Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Of the Sign” at Novgorod (1170).
Great-martyr James the Persian (421).
St. Palladius of Thessalonica (6th c.-7th c.).
Uncovering of the relics of St. Vsevolod (in baptism Gabriel), prince and wonderworker of Pskov (1192).
St. James, bishop and wonderworker of Rostov (1392). St. Andrew Ogorodnikov, fool-for-Christ, of Simbirsk (1841). Synaxis of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Radonezh.
17 Monk-martyrs in India (4th c.). St. Romanus the Wonderworker, of Cilicia, near Antioch (5th c.). St. Diodorus, founder of Yeriegorsk Monastery (Solovki) (1633).
New Hieromartyrs Nicholas (Dobronravov), archbishop of Vladimir, Nikon (Belyaev), archimandrite, of the Staro-Golutvin Monastery (Kolomna), Ioasaph (Boyev), archimandrite, of Nikolskoye Monastery (Moscow), Nicholas (Saltykov), hieromonk of the St. Nicholas-Peshnosha Monastery (Moscow), and Apollos (Fedoseyev), hieromonk, of Moscow (1937). New Hieromartyr Cronides, archimandrite, and with him Seraphim (Krestianinov), abbot, and Xenophont (Bondarenko), hieromonk, all of St. Sergius Lavra (1937).
Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos “Of the Sign”: “Kursk Root” (1295) “Of Abalak” (1637), “Of Tsarskoe Selo,” and “Of Seraphimo-Ponetaev.” (1879)
St. Pinuphrius of Egypt (4th c.). St. Palladius, bishop of Elenopolis, author of The Lausaic History (ca. 430). St. Maximus of Riez (ca. 460). St. Nathaniel of Nitria (6th c.). St. Virgil, bishop of Salzburg, Irish missionary (784). St. Theodosius of Turnovo, monastic founder at Mt. Kelifarevo (1363).
Repose of Hieromonk Athanasius of Iveron, Mt. Athos (1973).
Friday. [II Tim. 1:1-2, 8-18; Luke 19:12-28]
The parable of the ten pounds portrays the entire history
of mankind until the second coming of Christ. In it the
Lord speaks of Himself, of His sufferings, death, and
resurrection to the Heavenly Father, to reign over
mankind—all of which is His birthright. Those who
remain on the earth are divided into two parts: servants,
serving the Lord through obedience to the faith, and those
who do not want to have Him as king and serve Him, because
of their unbelief. To those who approach the Lord through
faith, with a readiness to serve Him, are given the gifts
of the Holy Spirit in the holy mysteries: this is a
pound—and every person numbered amongst the
believers receives it for serving. When everyone from the
human race capable of submitting to the Lord submits to
Him, then He will come again, as One who has received the
Kingdom. His first job will be to judge among the
servants: who acquired what with the grace given. Then
will follow judgment also over those who did not want to
have Him as king; that is who either did not believe, or
who fell from faith. Imprint these truths in your mind and
do not lose attention to them, for then there will be a
decision—do not expect any changes. Flee unbelief,
neither believe idly, but bring forth the fruits of faith.
Finding you faithful over a few things, the Lord will make
you ruler over many things (cf. Matt. 25:21).