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| Old Style
February 20
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Monday |
New Style
March 4
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| Tone 6. |  No fast.
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St. Leo, bishop of Catania in Sicily (ca. 780). Abbot Macarius and 34 monks and novices of Valaam Monastery martyred by the Lutherans: hieromonk Titus, schemamonk Tikhon, monks Gelasius, Sergius, Varlaam, Sabbas, Conon, Sylvester, Cyprian, Pimen, John, Simonas, Jonah, David, Cornelius, Niphon, Athanasius, and Serapion, and novices Varlaam, Athanasius, Anthony, Luke, Leontius, Thomas, Dionysius, Philip, Ignatius, Basil, Pachomius, Basil, Theophilus, John, Theodore, and John (1578),
Hieromartyr Sadoc (Sadoth), bishop of Persia, and 128 Martyrs with him (342-344). St. Agatho, pope of Rome (682). St. Yaroslav the Wise, great prince of Kiev (1054). St. Agatho, wonderworker of the Kiev Caves (13th c.-14th c.). Martyrdom of St. Cornelius, abbot of the Pskov Caves Monastery, and his disciple St. Bassian of Murom (1570).
Hieromartyr Eleutherius, bishop in Byzantium (2nd c.). St. Eleutherius, bishop of Tournai (531). St. Eucherius, bishop of Orleans (ca. 740). St. Bessarion the Great, wonderworker of Egypt (466). St. Cindeus, bishop of Pisidia.
Thoughts for Each Day of the Year
According to the Daily Church Readings from the Word of God
By St. Theophan the Recluse
Monday (35th). [I John 2:18–3:10; Mark 11:1–11]
Yesterday the parable about the prodigal son invited us to return from dissipation to the good path. Now the holy Apostle John inspires us for this, giving assurance that if we do this, when the Lord appears, we will be like Him. What can compare with such a dignity?! I should think that upon hearing this, you would be filled with a desire to attain this for yourself. It is a good and most importantly needful thing! Do not delay undertaking that through which it is attained. Read further: every man that hath this hope in Him, purifies himself, even as He is pure (I John 3:3). Is there anything within you in need of purifying? Of course—no small amount of things will be found. Make haste: for where the Lord is, no thing that defileth shall enter in (cf. Rev. 21–27). But do not be taken aback by the difficulty of this matter. The Lord Himself will be your helper in all things. Simply desire it wholeheartedly and turn to the Lord for His much needed help. His grace-filled strength will stream into your effort, and things will go easily and successfully. As there is no sin that can overcome the mercy of God, so there is no moral uncleanness which could resist the grace-filled strength that consumes it. Only on your part, let there be a lack of desire for this uncleanness, an earnest effort to repulse it, and your refuge in faith with the Lord.
Articles
 Hieromartyr Sadoc (Sadoth) the Bishop of PersiaThe Hieromartyr Sadoc, Bishop of Persia, and 128 Martyrs with him suffered in Persia under Sapor II. |
 St. Agathon the Pope of RomeSaint Agathon, Pope of Rome, was the son of pious Christian parents, who provided him an excellent education. |
 Venerable Agathon the Wonderworker of the Kiev CavesSaint Agathon of the Kiev Caves was a great ascetic, and he healed the sick by a laying his hands upon them. |
