اول تیموتائوس ۱.۱۸-۲۰, ۲.۸-۱۵ (رساله)

۱۸ای پسرم، تیموتائوس، این حکم را مطابق با نبوّتهایی که پیشتر بر تو شد، به تو می‌سپارم تا به مدد آنها در نبردِ نیکو پیکار کنی، ۱۹و به ایمان و وجدانی پاک متمسّک باشی، چرا که کِشتی ایمان بعضی با زیر پا نهادن آنها در‌هم شکسته است. ۲۰هیمِنائوس و اسکندر از این دسته‌اند، که ایشان را به شیطان سپردم تا عبرت گرفته، دیگر کفر نگویند. ۸پس آرزویم این است که مردان در همه جا، بی‌خشم و جدال، دستهایی مقدّس را به دعا برافرازند. ۹نیز خواهانم که زنان پوششی شایسته بر تن کنند و خویشتن را به نجابت و متانت بیارایند، نه به گیسوانِ بافته، یا طلا و مروارید، یا جامه‌های فاخر، ۱۰بلکه به زیورِ اعمال نیکو آراسته باشند، چنانکه شایستۀ زنانی است که مدّعی خداپرستی‌اند. ۱۱زن باید در آرامی و تسلیم کامل، تعلیم گیرد. ۱۲زن را اجازه نمی‌دهم که تعلیم دهد یا بر مرد مسلّط شود؛ بلکه باید آرام باشد. ۱۳زیرا نخست آدم سرشته شد و بعد حوا. ۱۴و آدم فریب نخورد، بلکه زن بود که فریب خورد و نافرمان شد. ۱۵امّا زنان با زادنِ فرزندان، رستگار خواهند شد، اگر در ایمان و محبت و تقدّس، نجیبانه ثابت بمانند.

لوقا ۲۰.۱-۸ (انجیل)

۱یکی از روزها که عیسی در صحن معبد مردم را تعلیم و بشارت می‌داد، سران کاهنان و علمای دین به همراه مشایخ نزدش آمدند ۲و گفتند: «به ما بگو، به چه اجازه‌ای این کارها را می‌کنی؟ چه کسی این اقتدار را به تو داده است؟» ۳پاسخ داد: «من نیز از شما پرسشی دارم؛ به من بگویید، ۴آیا تعمید یحیی از آسمان بود یا از انسان؟» ۵آنها با هم شور کرده، گفتند: «اگر بگوییم از آسمان بود، خواهد گفت، ”پس چرا به او ایمان نیاوردید؟“ ۶و اگر بگوییم از انسان بود، مردم همگی سنگسارمان خواهند کرد، زیرا بر این اعتقادند که یحیی پیامبر بود.» ۷پس پاسخ دادند: «نمی‌دانیم از کجاست.» ۸عیسی گفت: «من نیز به شما نمی‌گویم با چه اقتداری این کارها را می‌کنم.»

نبی صفنیا

He is ranked ninth among the Minor Prophets. He lived in Jerusalem in the reign of King Josiah (640-609), and according to some was the great-grandson of King Hezekiah. His name means “The Lord Protects” or “The Lord’s watch-post.”

پدر قابل احترام ما یوحنا خاموش, اسقف کولونیا (۵۵۸)

He was born into a Christian family at Nikopolis in Armenia. When he was eighteen his parents died, and with twelve other young men he established a small monastery. After a few years, much against his will he was made Bishop of Colonia, but he continued to live the ascetic life of a monk. After nine years of service as bishop, discouraged by the worldliness and intrigue around him, he secretly left for Jerusalem to live as a monk. He was divinely guided to the monastery of St Sabas, who received him and, knowing nothing of his rank, assigned him a lowly place among the new monks. Saint John cheerfully undertook whatever task was given to him and served the other monks in humility and silence. After completing his novitiate he was given a cell where he lived in total silence, fasting five days a week. On Saturdays and Sundays he joined the brethren for prayer, Communion and meals; but even at these times the other monks were edified by his silence and unceasing compunction. Saint Sabas desired to make him a priest and took him to be ordained by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. Saint John asked the Patriarch for a private meeting and explained that he could not be ordained because he was already a bishop. The Patriarch returned St John to St Sabas, telling him only that it was impossible for him to ordain John, who should be allowed to live in silence and solitude. Saint Sabas was perplexed (thinking that some sin prevented the monk from being ordained), but soon received a revelation of John’s true rank.

After many years of reclusion, St John withdrew further to a cave in the desert for nine years. He became known as a divinely-enlightened counselor and a wonderworker, and cheerfully received all who came to him for guidance or prayer. In 509 he returned to the monastery, where he lived as an anchorite in his cell, communicating with the world only through one of his disciples. For many years he lived only on thin porridge, into which he would mix ashes. One day a disciple saw him pouring ashes into his food, and John abandoned the practice, not wanting to be known for the practice of any virtue.

Once he asked God for a sign revealing whether he would be granted to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Taking a fig-seed, he placed it on a bare rock outside his cell. Without soil or water, the seed brought forth a plant, put forth leaves and flowers, and produced three figs, which St John shared with his disciples. The Saint then made ready for death. He reposed in peace, at the age of 104.