St. Symeon Stylites (the Younger) of the Wonderful Mountain (596). St. Nicetas the Stylite, wonderworker, of Pereyaslavl-Zalesski (1186).
Martyrs Meletius Stratelates, Stephen, John, and 1,218 soldiers with women and children, including: Serapion the Egyptian, Callinicus the Magician, Theodore, Faustus, the women Marciana, Susanna, and Palladia, two children Cyriacus and Christian, and twelve tribunes: Faustus, Festus, Marcellus, Theodore, Meletius, Sergius, Marcellinus, Felix, Photinus, Theodoriscus, Mercurius, and Didymus—all of whom suffered in Galatia (ca. 218). St. Vincent of Lerins (ca. 450). St. Gregory, archbishop of Novgorod (1193). Martyrdom by the Poles of Abbot Anthony, 40 monks, and over 1,000 laymen at the St. Paisius of Uglich Monastery (1609).
Nun-martyr Martha, abbess, of Monemvasia (990). Translation of the relics of St. George of the Holy Mountain and Georgia (ca. 1067).
Repose of Monk Cyriacus of Valaam (1818) and Blessed Amphilochius of Rostov (1824).
Thursday. [Acts 14:20–27; John 9:39–10:9]
And Jesus said, For judgment I am
come into this world, that they which see not might see;
and that they which see might be made blind (John
9:39). They which could not see were the simple people who
believed the Lord in simplicity of heart, while they which
saw were the scribes and learned men of that time, who due
to their pride of mind did not believe, and held back the
people. Our clever ones think that they see, and, this is
why they are alienated from that faith in the Lord that
the simple in heart and mind firmly hold to. Therefore,
according to the truth of the Lord they are blind, whereas
the people see. They are exactly like those birds which
can see at night, but not during the day. The truth of
Christ is dark for them, whereas what is contrary to this
truth—falsehood—to them seems clear: here they
are in their element. This is so obvious, but nevertheless
they are ready to ask: Are we blind also? (John
9:40). There is nothing to hide; you are blind. But since
it is your own fault that you are blind, the sin of
blindness and not seeing the light lies on you. You can
see, but you do not want to, because you came to love a
deceptive, yet tempting lie.