Martyr Hyacinth of Caesarea in Cappadocia (108).
Second translation of the relics of Hieromartyr Philip, metropolitan of Moscow and all Russia (1652).
Martyrs Diomedes, Eulampius, Asclepiodotus, and Golinduc (2nd c.). Martyrs Mocius and Mark (4th c.). St. Alexander, founder of the Monastery of the Unsleeping Ones, Constantinople (ca. 430). St. Anatolius, patriarch of Constantinople (458). St. Anatolius, recluse, of the Near Caves in Kiev (12th c.) and St. Anatolius (another), recluse, of the Far Caves in Kiev (13th c.). Repose of St. Basil, bishop of Ryazan (1295). Sts. Basil and Constantine, princes of Yaroslavl (13th c.). Sts. John and Longinus of Yarenga, monks of Solovki (1561). Blessed John of Moscow, fool-for-Christ (1589). St. Nicodemus of Khozyuga, monk of Kozhaezersk Monastery (1640). St. Basil, archbishop of Novgorod (1352). Blessed Michael, Herodion, Basil, and Thomas, fools-for-Christ, of Solvychegodsk (17th c.).
New Hieromartyr Anthony (Bystrov), archbishop of Arkhangelsk and Kholmogorsk (1931).
“Milk-Giver” Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos of Hilandar, Mt. Athos.
St. Anatolius, bishop of Laodicea, and his successor, St. Eusebius (3rd c.). St. Germanus, bishop of the Isle of Man and enlightener of Peel, nephew of St. Patrick of Ireland (474). St. Isaiah the Solitary, of Scetis and Palestine (ca. 489). St. Symeon the Stylite (the third), of Cilicia (6th c.). St. George the Godbearer, of the Black Mountain, teacher of St. George of Mt. Athos (1068). St. Joachim, monk, of Notena in Achaia (17th c.). New Monk-martyr Gerasimus the New, of Carpenision, at Constantinople (1812). Martyrs Theodotus and Theodota, martyred with St. Hyacinth at Caesarea in Cappadocia (108).
Repose of Nun Euphrosyne “the Unknown,” of Kolyupanovo (Aleksin) (1855).
Thursday. [I Cor. 7:24-35; Matt. 15:12-21]
Out of the heart proceed evil
thoughts. From whence in the heart? Their root lies in
sin which lives within us, and their branching out,
multiplying and particular appearance in each person come
from that person’s own will. What should one do?
First, cut off all that comes from your will. This will be
like someone tearing off leaves from a tree, cutting off
branches and twigs, and chopping the trunk almost to its
roots. Then, do not allow new sprouts to come up, and the
root itself will dry up; that is, do not allow evil
thoughts to proceed from your heart, and repel and drive
off those that do, and the sin which lives in us, not
receiving sustenance, will slacken and completely grow
weak. In this lies the essence of the commandment: be
sober, be vigilant (1 Peter 5:8). Take heed unto
thyself (1 Tim. 4:6). Gird up the loins of thy
mind 1 Peter 1:13.” Together with attentiveness
one must have discernment. From the heart not only bad
things proceed, but also good things; yet, one should not
fulfil every good thing suggested by the heart. What one
should truly fulfil is determined by discernment.
Discernment is a gardener’s knife; some branches it
cuts off, while others it grafts in.