Hieromartyrs Hermolaus, Hermippus, and Hermocrates, at Nicomedia (ca. 305).
Nun-martyr Parasceva of Rome (138-161). St. Moses the Hungarian, of the Kiev Caves (ca. 1043). St. Theodosius of the Caucasus (1948). St. Isaac, hieromonk of Svyatogorsk Monastery (1903).
New Hieromartyr Sergius Strelnikov, archpriest, of Orshanka (Vyatka) (1937).
Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “Of Emvolon” in Constantinople.
Martyr Oriozela of Reuma, near the Bosphorus (ca. 250). Virgin-martyr Jerusalem, near the Bosphorus (3rd c.). St. Gerontius, founder of St. Anne’s Skete, Mt. Athos (13th c.). St. Sava III, archbishop of Serbia (1316). St. Iakov Netsvetov of Atka Island and Ikogmute, missionary priest to the Yup’ik on the Yukon River (1867). St. Ignatius, monk, of Mt. Steirion.
Repose of Elder Theophanes of Solovki (1819) and Archimandrite Nathaniel (Pospelov) of Pskov Caves Monastery (2002).
Monday. [I Cor. 11:31-12:1; Matt. 18:1-11]
Except ye be converted, and become as little
children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of
Heaven. The structure of a child’s heart is a
model for all. Children, before egotistical strivings have
come out in them, are a model for imitation. What do we
see In children? Complete faith, which does not reason;
undebating obedience; sincere love; lack of worry and
peace under their parents’ roof; liveliness and
freshness of life, with activeness and a desire to learn
and become more perfect. But the Saviour particularly
emphasizes one of their virtues—humility:
Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child,
the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. For as
soon as there is true humility, all of the virtues are
there. It is revealed perfectly when the other virtues
have already bloomed in the heart and reach maturity; it
is their crown and protection. This is the mystery of
spiritual life in our Lord Jesus Christ. Whoever is higher
is more humble, because he more clearly and tangibly sees
that it is not he who labours successfully, but the
grace which is in him; and this is the measure of
the age of Christ’s fulfilment. For the main
thing in Christ Jesus is that He humbled Himself, and
became obedient unto death.
Tuesday. [I Cor. 12:12-26; Matt. 18:18-22; 19:1-2, 13-15]
Wanting to know how many times one should forgive
his brother, Saint Peter asked with the suggestion:
forgive till seven times? Saying this, he thought
that he chose the greatest amount. How short is human
patience! The Lord, applying His longsuffering to our
infirmities, determined, I say not unto thee, Until
seven times: but Until seventy times seven. This is
the same as saying: always forgive and do not think about
not forgiving. All-forgivingness shall be the distinctive
feature of a Christian spirit, as all-forgivingness is the
source and constant support of our life in the Lord, from
God Himself. Customary forgiving everyone of everything is
the outer clothing of Christian love, which according to
the Epistle, suffereth long, and is kind, is not
easily provoked, beareth all things (I
Cor. 13:4-7). It is the most faithful guarantee of
forgiveness at the last judgment; for if we forgive, our
heavenly Father will also forgive us (Matt. 6:14). In such
a manner, if you want to go to heaven—forgive
everyone, sincerely, from the bottom of your heart, so
that not even a shadow of hostility remains.