St. Michael the Confessor, metropolitan of Synnada (821).
Uncovering of the relics of St. Leontius, bishop and wonderworker of Rostov (1164).
Synaxis of the Saints of Rostov and Yaroslavl.
Martyr Michael “the Blackrobed,” of St. Sabbas Monastery (9th c.). Virgin Euphrosyne, princess and abbess, of Polotsk (1173). Uncovering of the relics of St. Abramius, archimandrite, of Rostov (1210). St. Paisius, abbot, of Galich (1460). Synaxis of the New Martyrs of Chelm and Podlasie (Poland).
“Chelnsk” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Thou Art the Vineyard.”
Holy Myrrh-bearer Mary, wife of Cleopas (1st c.). Hieromartyrs Epitacius, bishop of Tuy (Spain), and Basil, bishop of Braga (Portugal) (1st c.). St. Damian (King Demetrius) of Gareji, Georgia (1157). St. Ioannicius I, archbishop of Serbia (1270). St. John of Valaam and New Valamo (Finland) (1958).
Repose of Hieromonk Damascene of Valaam (1825), Hieroschemamonk Meletius of Svir (1877), disciple of Elder Theodore of Svir, and Nun Euphrosyne (1934), disciple of St. Barsanuphius of Optina.
Sunday of the Holy Fathers. [Acts 20:16–18,
28–36; John 17:1–13]
Arias began to deny the divinity of the
Son of God and His oneness in essence with God the Father.
The entire Church rose up against him; all believers, from
all ends of the earth, unanimously confessed that the Lord
Jesus Christ is the Only-Begotten Son of God, true God of
true God; begotten, not made, of one essence with the
Father. One would think that this unanimity was purely
coincidental, but this faith was then tried by fire when
the authorities and powerful of this world began to side
with the Arians. Neither fire, nor sword, nor persecution
could extinguish this faith, and it was immediately found
everywhere among everyone, as soon as the pressure from
external powers ceased. This means that it makes up the
heart of the Church and the essence of her confession.
Glory be to the Lord, Who preserves this faith within us!
For, as long as it exists, we are still Christians, though
we may not live as such. If it ceases to exist,
Christianity will end.