St. Nicephorus the Confessor, patriarch of Constantinople (828). Great-martyr John the New, of Suceava, at Belgorod (Cetatea Alba) (1330-1340).
Hieromartyr Pothinus, bishop of Lyons (177). Martyrs Sanctus, Maturus, Attalus, Blandina, Biblis, Ponticus, Alexander, and others, at Lyon (ca.177). Uncovering of the relics of St. Juliana, princess of Vyazma (Novotorzhok) (1819). Right-believing Prince Andrew of Nizhegorod (1365).
St. Marinus of Constantinople, son of St. Mary the New, of Byzia (ca. 930). St. Odo, archbishop of Canterbury (959). St. Nicephorus, bishop of Milet (11th c.). New Martyr Demetrius of Philadelphia (1657). New Martyr Constantine the Hagarene, at Constantinople (1819). Hieromartyr Erasmus, bishop of Formia in Campania, and 20,000 martyrs with him (303).
Repose of Schema-archimandrite Zachariah of the St. Sergius Lavra (1936) and slaying of Monk Hariton of Holy Archangels Monastery (Kosovo) (1999).
Thursday. [Rom. 5:10–16; Matt. 8:23–27]
They set off for the other side of the sea.
The Lord was sleeping. A tempest arose and everyone was
terrified, but they forgot that the Lord was with them,
and thus there was nothing to fear. This also happens in
the earthly and spiritual course of life. When a tempest
of misfortunes or passions arises we usually become
worried to the point of paralyzation, and think that this
is normal; but the Lord sends us a lesson: O ye
of little faith! (Matt. 8:26). And justly! It
is impossible not to notice what is happening, but it is
possible to maintain a wise calmness. First and foremost,
see what the Lord wants of you, and submit humbly to His
strong hand. Do not rush about, do not become frenzied.
Then lift up your faith that the Lord is with you and fall
to His feet in prayer. Dot cry, “I perish!”
but with devotion call out, “Lord! If Thou
wilt—Thou canst do all things. Not my will, but Thy
will be done.” Believe, that this is how you will
safely escape the tempest that has arisen.