Martyr Irenarchus and Seven Women-martyrs, at Sebaste (303).
Monk-martyr Stephen the New (767).
Martyrs Basil, Stephen, Gregory (2), John, Andrew, Peter, Anna, and many others, who suffered with St. Stephen the New (767). Blessed Theodore, archbishop of Rostov (1394).
New Hieromartyr Seraphim (Chichagov), metropolitan of St. Petersburg (1937). New Hieromartyrs Raphael (Tyupin), hieromonk of the Zlatoustov Monastery (Moscow), and Monkmartyr Vincent (Nikolsky) of Optina Monastery (1937).
Hieromartyrs Timothy and Theodore, bishops; Peter, John, Sergius, Theodore, and Nicephorus, priests; Basil and Thomas, deacons; Monk-martyrs Hierotheus, Daniel, Chariton, Socrates, Comasius, and Eusebius; and Martyr Etymasius, at Tiberiopolis (361). St. Theodore, bishop of Theodosiopolis in Armenia (end of 6th c.). St. Oda, virgin, of Brabant (Neth.) (726).
Saturday. [Gal. 5:22-6:2; Luke 10:19-21]
I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that
thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and
hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it
seemed good in thy sight. Behold the judgment over
human wisdom and intelligence. We can see this happen.
Revelation is now before our eyes in Divine scripture, and
the intelligent read it, but do not understand. One must
marvel: it is written simply, but to them everything there
seems not as it is written; it has as though blinded them.
Babes see and understand, but for the others what is
revealed is hidden. It pleased the Heavenly Father to
establish it so; therefore there is no need to debate. If
what was vitally necessary had not been revealed at all,
then the intelligent could still object; but it has been
revealed—come and partake of it—that is why it
was revealed. Just become a babe.
“How—me?” you say, “no way!”
Well, as you like; remain wise and intelligent,
understanding, however, nothing of vital necessity and not
containing it in your head, wandering amidst phantoms and
illusions born from showing off your intelligence, and
keeping you in total blindness, according to which you
think that you can see, but you are blind, “and
cannot see afar off” (cf. 2 Pet. 1:9)—that is
you see something, like through a thick haze. But this
does not show you the true path and does not lead to the
goal, but only keeps you in an endless circle of
self-delusion. Save us, O Lord, from such a terrible
state!…