Luke 24.36-53 (6th Matins Gospel)

36A kad oni ovo govorahu, i sam Isus stade meðu njima, i reèe im: mir vam. 37A oni se uplašiše, i poplašeni buduæi, mišljahu da vide duha. 38I reèe im: šta se plašite? I zašto takove misli ulaze u srca vaša? 39Vidite ruke moje i noge moje: ja sam glavom; opipajte me i vidite; jer duh tijela i kostiju nema kao što vidite da ja imam. 40I ovo rekavši pokaza im ruke i noge. 41A dok oni još ne vjerovahu od radosti i èuðahu se reèe im: imate li ovdje što za jelo? 42A oni mu daše komad ribe peèene, i meda u satu. 43I uzevši izjede pred njima. 44I reèe im: ovo su rijeèi koje sam vam govorio još dok sam bio s vama, da sve treba da se svrši što je za mene napisano u zakonu Mojsijevu i u prorocima i u psalmima. 45Tada im otvori um da razumiju pismo. 46I reèe im: tako je pisano, i tako je trebalo da Hristos postrada i da ustane iz mrtvijeh treæi dan; 47I da se propovijeda pokajanje u ime njegovo i oproštenje grijeha po svijem narodima poèevši od Jerusalima. 48A vi ste svjedoci ovome. 49I gle, ja æu poslati obeæanje oca svojega na vas; a vi sjedite u gradu Jerusalimskome dok se ne obuèete u silu s visine. 50I izvede ih napolje do Vitanije, i podignuvši ruke svoje blagoslovi ih. 51I kad ih blagosiljaše, otstupi od njih, i uznošaše se na nebo. 52I oni mu se pokloniše, i vratiše se u Jerusalim s velikom radošæu. 53I bijahu jednako u crkvi hvaleæi i blagosiljajuæi Boga. Amin.

Hebrews 4.14-5.6 (Epistle)

14Imajuæi dakle velikoga poglavara sveštenièkoga, koji je prošao nebesa, Isusa sina Božijega, da se držimo priznanja. 15Jer nemamo poglavara sveštenièkoga koji ne može postradati s našijem slabostima, nego koji je u svaèemu iskušan kao i mi, osim grijeha. 16Da pristupimo dakle slobodno k prijestolu blagodati, da primimo milost i naðemo blagodat za vrijeme kad nam zatreba pomoæ.

1Jer svaki poglavar sveštenièki koji se iz ljudi uzima, za ljude se postavlja na službu k Bogu, da prinosi dare i žrtve za grijehe, 2Koji može postradati s onima koji ne znadu i zalaze; jer je i on pod slabošæu. 3I zato je dužan kako za narodne tako i za svoje grijehe prinositi. 4I niko sam sebi ne daje èasti, nego koji je pozvan od Boga, kao i Aron. 5Tako i Hristos ne proslavi sam sebe da bude poglavar sveštenièki, nego onaj koji mu reèe: ti si moj sin, ja te danas rodih. 6Kao što i na drugome mjestu govori: ti si sveštenik vavijek po redu Melhisedekovu.

Mark 8.34-9.1 (Gospel)

34I dozvavši narod s uèenicima svojima reèe im: ko hoæe za mnom da ide neka se odreèe sebe i uzme krst svoj, i za mnom ide. 35Jer ko hoæe dušu svoju da saèuva, izgubiæe je; a ko izgubi dušu svoju mene radi i jevanðelja onaj æe je saèuvati. 36Jer kakva je korist èovjeku ako zadobije sav svijet a duši svojoj naudi? 37Ili kakav æe otkup dati èovjek za dušu svoju? 38Jer ko se postidi mene i mojijeh rijeèi u rodu ovome preljubotvornome i grješnom, i sin æe se èovjeèij postidjeti njega kad doðe u slavi oca svojega s anðelima svetima.

1I reèe im: zaista vam kažem: imaju neki meðu ovima što stoje ovdje koji neæe okusiti smrti dok ne vide carstvo Božije da doðe u sili.

Monk-martyr Nikon and 199 disciples, in Sicily (251)

He was born in Neapolis (Naples) to a pagan father and a Christian mother, and became an officer in the Roman army. Though he was not baptised, his mother had secretly instructed him in the Christian faith. Once, in a battle, his company was completely surrounded by the enemy, and Nikon recalled his mother’s counseling that, whenever he was in trouble, he should make the sign of the Cross and call upon Christ. This he did, and was immediately filled with strength and resolution, so that the enemy’s army was routed. Nikon went home, openly crying out ‘Great is the God of the Christians!’ to the great joy of his mother.

He traveled secretly to Cyzicus in Asia, where the bishop Theodosius baptised him. He then entered a monastery to spend his days in prayer and study. But some years later Theodosius, who was near death, had a vision in which he was told to consecrate Nikon as his successor. He summoned Nikon from the monastery and, to the monk’s amazement, immediately ordained him a deacon, then a priest, then a bishop.

Later, bishop Nikon returned to Italy to preach the Gospel of Christ. In Naples, he found his mother still alive, and remained with her until her death. He then set out with nine disciples, former fellow-soldiers, to proclaim the Faith. Through the Saint’s grace-filled preaching and example, many more disciples were soon added to this number. At that time a great persecution of Christians was underway, and Quintinianus, ruler of that region, seized Nikon and his companions and handed them over to the torturers. One hundred ninety of Nikon’s companions perished under torture. Nikon himself was beaten, flayed, and even thrown from a high cliff, but was miraculously preserved. Finally he was slain by the sword and his body thrown in a field to be eaten by the beasts. A shepherd boy, possessed by a spirit of madness, found the body, fell on it, and was instantly healed. He told his story to some Christians, who found the body and gave it honorable burial. Saint Nikon contested during the reign of the Emperor Decius.