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.

Hebrews 9.1-7 (Epistle, Theotokos)

1Tako i prvi zavjet imaše pravde bogomoljstva i svetinju zemaljsku. 2Jer skinija bješe naèinjena prva, u kojoj bijaše svijeænjak i trpeza i postavljeni hljebovi, što se zove svetinja. 3A za drugijem zavjesom bijaše skinija, koja se zove svetinja nad svetinjama, 4Koja imaše zlatnu kadionicu, i kovèeg zavjeta okovan svuda zlatom, u kome bijaše zlatan sud s manom, i palica Aronova, koja se bješe omladila, i ploèe zavjeta. 5A više njega bijahu heruvimi slave, koji osjenjavahu oltar; o èemu se ne može sad govoriti redom. 6A kad ovo bijaše tako ureðeno, ulažahu sveštenici svagda u prvu skiniju i savršivahu službu Božiju. 7A u drugu ulažaše jednom u godini sam poglavar sveštenièki, ne bez krvi, koju prinosi za sebe i za narodna neznanja.

Luke 17.26-37 (Gospel)

26I kako je bilo u vrijeme Nojevo onako æe biti u dane sina èovjeèijega: 27Jeðahu, pijahu, ženjahu se, udavahu se do onoga dana kad Noje uðe u kovèeg, i doðe potop i pogubi sve. 28Tako kao što bi u dane Lotove: jeðahu, pijahu, kupovahu, prodavahu, saðahu, zidahu; 29A u dan kad iziðe Lot iz Sodoma, udari oganj i sumpor iz neba i pogubi sve. 30Tako æe biti i u onaj dan kad æe se javiti sin èovjeèij. 31U onaj dan koji se desi na krovu a pokuæstvo njegovo u kuæi, neka ne silazi da ga uzme; i koji se desi u polju, tako neka se ne vraæa natrag. 32Opominjite se žene Lotove. 33Koji poðe da saèuva dušu svoju, izgubiæe je; a koji je izgubi, oživljeæe je. 34Kažem vam: u onu noæ biæe dva na jednome odru, jedan æe se uzeti a drugi æe se ostaviti; 35Dvije æe mljeti zajedno, jedna æe se uzeti a druga æe se ostaviti; 36Dva æe biti na njivi, jedan æe se uzeti a drugi æe se ostaviti. 37I odgovarajuæi rekoše mu: gdje, Gospode? A on im reèe: gdje je strvina onamo æe se i orlovi skupiti.

Luke 10.38-42, 11.27-28 (Gospel, Theotokos)

38A kad iðahu putem i on uðe u jedno selo, a žena neka, po imenu Marta, primi ga u svoju kuæu. 39I u nje bješe sestra, po imenu Marija, koja i sjede kod nogu Isusovijeh i slušaše besjedu njegovu. 40A Marta se bješe zabunila kako æe ga doèekati, i prikuèivši se reèe: Gospode! zar ti ne mariš što me sestra moja ostavi samu da služim? reci joj dakle da mi pomože. 41A Isus odgovarajuæi reèe joj: Marta! Marta! brineš se i trudiš za mnogo, 42A samo je jedno potrebno. Ali je Marija dobri dijel izabrala, koji se neæe uzeti od nje. 27A kad to govoraše, podiže glas jedna žena iz naroda i reèe mu: blago utrobi koja te je nosila, i sisama koje si sao! 28A on reèe: blago i onima koji slušaju rijeè Božiju, i drže je.

Holy Great Martyr and Most Wise Catherine of Alexandria and those with her (305)

“Saint Catherine, who was from Alexandria, was the daughter of Constas (or Cestus). She was an exceedingly beautiful maiden, most chaste, and illustrious in wealth, lineage, and learning. By her steadfast understanding, she utterly vanquished the passionate and unbridled soul of Maximinus, the tyrant of Alexandria; and by her eloquence, she stopped the mouths of the so-called philosophers who had been gathered to dispute with her. She was crowned with the crown of martyrdom in the year 305. Her holy relics were taken by Angels to the holy mountain of Sinai, where they were discovered many years later; the famous monastery of Saint Catherine was originally dedicated to the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord and the Burning Bush, but later was dedicated to Saint Catherine.” (Great Horologion) So great was St Catherine’s eloquence that the fifty orators assigned to debate her recognized their error and, as a body, asked for baptism, for which Maximinus condemned them all to death. The Saint was then subjected to torture on a specially-constructed spiked wheel (with which she is usually shown in her icon), but an angel loosed her and miraculously smashed the wheel. Maximinus’ own wife and 200 soldiers, seeing her sufferings and the nobility with which she bore them, were moved to profess their faith in Christ and their yearning to be baptized. All of them were put to death. Finally Catherine herself was led outside the walls of Alexandria and, after a prayer of thanksgiving to God, was beheaded.

Great Martyr Mercurius (ca. 259)

He was born in the province of Asia, to a Scythian who had secretly converted to Christianity. Like his parents, he was a secret follower of Christ, serving as a legionary in the Roman army during the reign of the Emperor Decius. During a campaign, an Angel appeared to him, gave him a sword and told him to go into battle trusting in Christ’s help. Mercurius plunged into battle, fought his way alone through the enemy lines, and reached the barbarian commander Rigas, whom he killed. Upon the death of their chief the barbarians scattered and the victory was won.

The Emperor, hearing of the young soldier’s exploits, promoted him to a position at court. There, lulled by the pleasures and honors of the court, Mercurius forgot his duties to Christ his King. One night the same Angel who had given him the sword appeared to him once again and reminded him of the sword that Christ had given him, an emblem of the battle of martyrdom that he was about to enter. The next day Mercurius, now returned to his senses, refused to offer sacrifice to the gods. When called before the Emperor, he boldly proclaimed Christ and threw off his badges of office. He was thrown in prison and subjected to cruel tortures, all of which he bore with peace and joy, encouraged by the Angel who appeared to him again to offer comfort and encouragement. After long torment he was beheaded in Caesarea in Cappadocia, at the age of twenty-five.