2 Thessalonians 1.10-2.2 (Epistle)

10Kad doðe da se proslavi u svetima svojima, i divan da bude u svima koji ga vjerovaše; jer se primi svjedoèanstvo naše meðu vama u onaj dan. 11Zato se i molimo svagda za vas da vas udostoji Bog naš zvanja, i ispuni svaku radost dobrote i djelo vjere u sili; 12Da se proslavi ime Gospoda našega Isusa Hrista u vama i vi u njemu, po blagodati Boga našega i Gospoda Isusa Hrista.

1Ali vas molimo, braæo, za dolazak Gospoda našega Isusa Hrista, i za naš sastanak u njemu, 2Da se ne date lasno pokrenuti od uma, niti da se plašite, ni duhom ni rijeèju, ni poslanicom, kao da je od nas poslana, da je veæ nastao dan Hristov.

Mark 8.22-26 (Gospel)

22I doðe u Vitsaidu; i dovedoše k njemu slijepa, i moljahu ga da ga se dotakne. 23I uzevši za ruku slijepoga izvede ga napolje iz sela, i pljunuvši mu u oèi metnu ruke na nj, i zapita ga vidi li što. 24I pogledavši reèe: vidim ljude gdje idu kao drva. 25I potom opet metnu mu ruke na oèi, i reèe mu da pogleda: i iscijeli se, i vidje sve lijepo. 26I posla ga kuæi njegovoj govoreæi: ne ulazi u selo, niti kazuj kome u selu.

Holy Martyrs Menas, Hermogenes and Eugraphus (235)

Menas was an Athenian, a courtier of the Emperor Maximinus, and a secret Christian. Once there was an outbreak of civil unrest in Alexandria, brought about by various political factions, and by the increasing success of Christian missionaries in turning the Alexandrian people from the idols. The Emperor sent Menas to reconcile the parties and settle the dispute. On his arrival, Menas quickly resolved the political troubles and restored peace to the city; but instead of putting down Christianity as the Emperor had desired, he did everything in his power to protect the Christians and encourage the spread of the Gospel. When word of this came to the Emperor, he sent another trusted courtier, Hermogenes, to re-establish Imperial authority and to execute Menas if he would not renounce Christ. Hermogenes followed these orders scrupulously: he subjected the godly Menas to various horrid tortures in the public arena. But Menas was miraculously preserved through them all, and when he finally appeared in the arena, flanked by two shining Angels, Hermogenes repented and confessed Christ. He in turn became such a fervent advocate for the Gospel that he was soon made a Bishop (!). Finally the Emperor decided that the only solution was to come to Alexandria himself. There he had both Menas and Hermogenes cruelly tortured to death in secret, lest they perform any public miracles; but when the Emperor presented himself before the people at the arena the following day, the two Saints, miraculously preserved, appeared there also, causing the people to cry out “Christ is the only true God!” At the sight, Menas’ scribe Eugraphus declared himself a Christian, leaped into the arena and publicly demanded the honor of dying with them. All three were beheaded. Their precious relics were later taken to Constantinople, where they worked many miracles.