2 Timothy 3.16-4.4 (Epistle)

16Sve je pismo od Boga dano, i korisno za uèenje, za karanje, za popravljanje, za pouèavanje u pravdi, 17Da bude savršen èovjek Božij, za svako dobro djelo pripravljen.

1Zaklinjem te dakle pred Bogom i Gospodom našijem Isusom Hristom, koji æe suditi živima i mrtvima, dolaskom njegovijem i carstvom njegovijem: 2Propovijedaj rijeè, nastoj u dobro vrijeme i u nevrijeme, pokaraj, zaprijeti, umoli sa svakijem snošenjem i uèenjem; 3Jer æe doæi vrijeme kad zdrave nauke neæe slušati, nego æe po svojijem željama nakupiti sebi uèitelje, kao što ih uši svrbe, 4I odvratiæe uši od istine, i okrenuæe se ka gatalicama.

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 Prophet Haggai (ca. 520 BC)

He was born in Babylon, of the priestly tribe of Levi, during the captivity of the Jews. After their return to Jerusalem, the Jews began to rebuild the Temple and to worship there according to the Law, but were discouraged by opposition from the local population (many of them Jews who had not gone into captivity). So God raised up the holy Prophets Haggai and Zechariah (February 8) to stir the people to complete their sacred work. Haggai’s prophecies reveal that the drought that the Hebrews were suffering was brought about by their failure to complete the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and would only end when they rededicated themselves to their work. He is ranked tenth among the minor Prophets.

Holy Empress and Wonderworker Theophano (893)

She was born to noble parents in Constantinople. Beautiful and pious, she was chosen by the Emperor Basil (867-886) to be the bride of his son Leo VI the Wise. When Leo ascended the throne, the Empress showed no attraction to the honors and pleasures of the royal life, but devoted her days to prayer and almsgiving. She fulfilled all the duties of her Imperial station while living a life of austerity whenever out of the world’s sight. Beneath her rich garments she wore coarse haircloth, and kept fasts and vigils as if she were living the monastic life. She was humble and respectful to all, and would address even her servants as ‘Master’ or ‘Mistress.’ At night, after her servants had left her alone, she would leave her fine bed and sleep on a mat on the floor, rising often during the night to pray.

After her daughter Eudocia died in 892, she wished to leave the world and enter a monastery, but her spiritual father St Euthymius (August 5) would not give his blessing. Nonetheless, her time in the world was not long: only three years later she died, before she had reached the age of thirty. Immediately after her funeral in the Church of the Holy Apostles, her holy relics became the source of many miracles and healings, and are venerated to this day in the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople.