Hieromartyr Charalampus, bishop of Magnesia in Asia Minor, and Martyrs Porphyrius and Baptus (202).
Martyrs Ennatha, Valentina, and Paula, of Palestine (308). St. Anna of Novgorod (1050). St. Prochorus of the Kiev Caves (1107). St. Longinus, founder of Koryazhemka Monastery (Vologda) (1540). St. Raphael, archimandrite (1765), and St. Ioannicius, hieromonk (1882), of Svatogorsk Monastery. Synaxis of Novgorod Hierarchs: Sts. Joachim (1030), Luke the Jew (1060), Germanus (1095), Arcadius (1162), Gregory (1193), Martyrius (1199), Anthony (1231), Basil (1352), Moses (1362), Symeon (1421), Gennadius (1504), Pimen (1571), and Athonius (1653).
“Areovindus” (“Fiery Vision”) Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.
St. Scholastica of Italy (543), sister of St. Benedict of Nursia. St. Anastasius II, patriarch of Jerusalem (706). St. John Chimchimeli of Bachkovo and Gremi (13th c.).
Wednesday. [I John 3:21–4:6; Mark 14:43–15:1]
If help is needed, ask. “I asked,” you say,
“and it was not given.” But then how is it
given to others? With the Lord there is no respect of
persons; to give to one, and not to give to another
without any reason. He is ready to give to all—for
He loves to be giving. If He does not give to someone, the
reason is not in Him, but in the one asking help. Among
such reasons can be some that we cannot even guess. But
there exist known reasons, visible to anyone. One of these
reasons (and is it not the chief reason?) Saint John
points out to be the absence of confidence, and the
absence of confidence comes from the condemnation of the
heart or the conscience. Beloved, he
says, if our heart condemn us not, then have we
confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive
of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those
things that are pleasing in His sight (I John
3:21). There is nothing more to add to these words.
Everything is clear in and of itself. What master will
help an unfaithful servant, a squanderer and profligate?
Will the Lord really indulge us when we do not want to
please Him and fulfil His commandments; if we only start
praying when an extreme need arises?!