Apostle Aquila of the Seventy (1st c.), and St. Priscilla (1st c.)
Martyr Justus, at Rome (1st c.). St. Onesimus, monk and wonderworker, of Magnesia (ca. 284-305). St. Ellius (Hellius) of Egypt (4th c.). St. Stephen, founder of Makhrishche Monastery (Vologda) (1406). St. Nicodemus of Mt. Athos, spiritual writer (1809). New Martyr John of Merv (Turkmenistan).
New Hieroconfessor Nicholas Poretsky, archpriest, of Vlakhernskoye (Moscow) (1933).
St. Heraclius, patriarch of Alexandria (246). St. Marcellinus, priest, of Utrecht (8th c.). St. Joseph the Confessor, archbishop of Thessalonica (832). St. Longinus, hieroschemamonk of Svyatogorsk Monastery (1882). Uncovering of the relics of St. Theophilus, fool-for-Christ, of Kiev (1993). Childmartyr Slobodan Stojanovich (Bosnia and Herzegovina) (1992).
Saturday. [Rom. 8:14-21; Matt. 9:9-13]
When someone, by his fear of God and
the demands of his conscience already has an awakened
thirst for spiritual things, he possesses a certain sense
enabling him to understand the meaning of words relating
to the spiritual sphere, although they might be clothed in
the form of a parable. For such people a parable does not
hide the truth, but rather reveals it even more clearly.
But he who is not of this disposition does not understand
any spiritual content described in the form of a parable.
Even if one were to offer him a word on these subjects
that was not in the form of a parable he would only
understand the words, and not comprehend the essence of
the matter. It would go against all of his notions, and
seem to him to be an absurdity which he would not hesitate
to mock. This is precisely why the Lord talked to the
people in parables. Whoever is spiritually inclined will
understand a parable, whereas someone with no inclinations
will not understand no matter what you say. Because
they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do
they understand…For this people’s heart is
waxed gross (Matt. 13:12-15). Meanwhile, the parable
did not deprive of needed instruction those who were
capable of seeing the hidden truth: For whosoever hath,
to him shall be given, and he shall have more
abundance.