Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the First Six Ecumenical Councils.
Martyr Emilian of Silistra in Bulgaria (363).
Martyr Hyacinth of Amastris (4th c.).
St. Pambo, hermit, of Egypt (4th c.). St. John the Much-suffering, of the Kiev Caves (1160). St. Pambo, recluse, of the Kiev Caves (13th c.). St. Leontius, founder of Karikhov Monastery (Novgorod) (1492).
New Hieromartyr Apollinarius (Mosalitinov), hieromonk of the St. Nicholas Monastery (Verkhoturye) (1918).
“Tolga” (1314) and “Kaluga” (1748) Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos.
Great-martyr Athanasius of Klysma, Egypt (4th c.). St. Barlaam, ascetic, of Bald Mountain, near Antioch in Syria (6th c.). St. Arnulf (Arnold) bishop of Metz (640). St. Frederich, bishop of Utrecht (Neth.) (9th c.). Sts. Stephen, patriarch of Constantinople (928), and John the Confessor, metropolitan of Chalcedon (9th c.). Hieromartyr Cosmas, hieromonk, of Gareji, Georgia (1630).
Repose of Abbess Mavrikia (1867) and Abbess Zosima (1933), both of Goritsy Convent.
Seventh Sunday After Pentacost. [Rom. 15:1-7; Matt.
9:27-35]
According to your faith be it unto
you, said the Lord to the two blind men, and
immediately their eyes were opened. The greater the faith
is, the greater is the influx of Divine power. Faith is
the receiver, lips, and receptacle of grace. Just as one
person’s lungs are large while another
person’s are small, and the large take in more air,
while the small take in less, so one person has a large
degree of faith, and another a small degree, and one
person’s faith receives more gifts from the Lord,
and another person’s fewer. God is everywhere,
encompasses everything and contains all, and loves to
dwell in human souls. But He does not forcibly enter them,
even though He is Almighty, but enters as if upon
invitation; for He does not want to infringe upon the
power which man has over himself, or infringe upon
man’s right to rule his own house—a right
which He has granted. Whosoever opens himself through
faith, God fills, but whosoever closes himself through
unbelief—God does not enter, though He is near.
Lord! Add to our faith, for faith too is Thy gift. Each of
us should confess: Poor and needy am I (Ps.
69:6).