Hebrews 9.8-10, 15-23 (Epistle)

8Ovijem pokazivaše Duh sveti da se još nije otvorio put svetijeh, dokle prva skinija stoji; 9Koja ostade prilika za sadašnje vrijeme, u koje se prinose dari i žrtve, i ne mogu da se svrše po savjesti onoga koji služi, 10Osim u jelima i piæima, i razliènom umivanju i pravdanju tijela, koje je postavljeno do vremena popravljenja. 15I zato je novome zavjetu posrednik, da kroz smrt, koja bi za otkup od prestupaka u prvome zavjetu, obeæanje vjeènoga našljedstva prime zvani. 16Jer gdje je zavjet valja da bude i smrt onoga koji èini zavjet. 17Jer je zavjet po smrti potvrðen: buduæi da nema nikakve sile dok je živ onaj koji ga je naèinio. 18Jer ni prvi nije utvrðen bez krvi. 19Jer kad Mojsije izgovori sve zapovijesti po zakonu svemu narodu, onda uze krvi jarèije i teleæe, s vodom i vunom crvenom i isopom, te pokropi i knjigu i sav narod 20Govoreæi: ovo je krv zavjeta koji Bog naèini s vama. 21A tako i skiniju i sve sudove službene pokropi krvlju. 22I gotovo sve se krvlju èisti po zakonu, i bez proljeva krvi ne biva oproštenje. 23Tako je trebalo da se oblièja nebeskijeh ovima èiste, a sama nebeska boljijem žrtvama od ovijeh.

Mark 11.11-23 (Gospel)

11I uðe Isus u Jerusalim, i u crkvu; i promotrivši sve, kad bi uveèe, iziðe u Vitaniju s dvanaestoricom. 12I sjutradan kad iziðoše iz Vitanije, ogladnje. 13I vidjevši izdaleka smokvu s lišæem doðe ne bi li što našao na njoj; i došavši k njoj ništa ne naðe osim lišæa; jer još ne bješe vrijeme smokvama. 14I odgovarajuæi Isus reèe joj: da otsad od tebe niko ne jede roda dovijeka. I slušahu uèenici njegovi. 15I doðoše opet u Jerusalim; i ušavši Isus u crkvu stade izgoniti one koji prodavahu i kupovahu po crkvi; i ispremeta trpeze onijeh što mijenjahu novce, i klupe onijeh što prodavahu golubove. 16I ne dadijaše da ko pronese suda kroz crkvu. 17I uèaše govoreæi im: nije li pisano: dom moj neka se zove dom molitve svima narodima? A vi naèiniste od njega hajduèku peæinu. 18I èuše književnici i glavari sveštenièki, i tražahu kako bi ga pogubili; jer ga se bojahu; jer se sav narod èuðaše nauci njegovoj. 19I kad bi uveèe iziðe napolje iz grada. 20I ujutru prolazeæi vidješe smokvu gdje se posušila iz korijena. 21I opomenuvši se Petar reèe mu: Ravi! gle, smokva što si je prokleo posušila se. 22I odgovarajuæi Isus reèe im: 23Imajte vjeru Božiju; jer vam zaista kažem: ako ko reèe gori ovoj: digni se i baci se u more, i ne posumnja u srcu svojemu, nego uzvjeruje da æe biti kao što govori: biæe mu što god reèe.

Holy Virgin and Martyr Anysia (298)

She was born to a pious, noble and very wealthy family in Thessalonica. When both her parents died while she was an adolescent, Anysia consecrated herself to Christ, the heavenly Bridegroom. She cast off all her jewels and fine clothing, dressing herself as a commoner. She freed all her many slaves, giving each of them a generous sum of money to establish themselves. She gave away all of her inheritance, which included large estates. Thenceforth she spent her days visiting the sick, helping widows and orphans, and, especially, aiding Christians suffering under persecution. She would visit those in prison, bringing them food and water and tending their wounds. All the time not devoted to aiding the poor or oppressed she spent in prayer in a small cell. One of her prayers was that she, like those that she helped, would be granted the crown of martyrdom.

One day, while she was walking to church, an imperial soldier accosted her and roughly questioned her. When she plainly declared herself a Christian, the soldier seized her and dragged her to a temple of the idols, where he commanded her to make sacrifice. In response, she only spat in his face. The enraged soldier drew his sword and thrust it into her side, slaying her. Some pious Christians took her body and buried it outside the city. When the persecutions had ended, a church was built in her honor at the place of her burial.

Our Holy Father Macarius, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia (1563)

He was born in Moscow in 1492. When his father died, his mother became a nun and he a monk, receiving the monastic name Macarius. He became an iconographer of rare talent. In 1523 he was ordained to the priesthood and made Abbot of the Monastery of Luchski; three years later he was consecrated Archbishop of Novgorod and Pskov, a see which had been vacant for many years. As Archbishop, he sent missionaries to the native peoples of the far north of Russia and, within his own diocese strove against the paganism still common among the people. He regularized life in the monasteries of his diocese, which had fallen into self-indulgence.

In 1542 he was elected Metropolitan of Moscow and head of the Russian Church. Five years later he crowned the first Tsar of Russia, Ivan Vassilievich. In 1551 he summoned the Council of the Hundred Chapters, which condemned various heresies prevalent at that time, laid down principles of Christian conduct and education, and established rules for iconography and Church art. Throughout his time as a hierarch, he continued to paint icons, and in 1553 he brought about the production of the first books to be printed in Russian. When the Khanate of Kazan fell, he immediately sent missionaries to convert the Tatars.

When the Tsar, who revered Saint Macarius, asked him for a spiritual book, he was surprised and displeased to be given a copy of the funeral service; but the Saint told him that anyone who read this book carefully and applied its words would never sin.

Saint Macarius reposed in peace in Moscow in 1563, and his popular veneration began immediately. In 1988 he was officially glorified by the Church of Russia.