Martyr Anastasia the Roman; Ven. Avram of Rostov; Our Holy Father Abramius (366) and his niece Mary (371) of Mesopotamia

For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; ²that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, ³in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. ⁴Now I say this that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech. ⁵For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

⁶As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, ⁷rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.

“He who is not with me is against me. He who doesn’t gather with me scatters.

²⁴The unclean spirit, when he has gone out of the man, passes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will turn back to my house from which I came out.’ ²⁵When he returns, he finds it swept and put in order. ²⁶Then he goes and takes seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first.”