1 Corinthians 15.12-19 (Epistle)

12A ako se Hristos propovijeda da ustade iz mrtvijeh, kako govore neki meðu vama da nema vaskrsenija mrtvijeh? 13I ako nema vaskrsenija mrtvijeh, to ni Hristos ne usta. 14A ako Hristos ne usta, uzalud dakle propovijedanje naše, a uzalud i vjera vaša. 15A nalazimo se i lažni svjedoci Božiji što svjedoèimo na Boga da vaskrse Hrista, kojega ne vaskrse kad mrtvi ne ustaju. 16Jer ako mrtvi ne ustaju, ni Hristos ne usta. 17A ako Hristos ne usta, uzalud vjera vaša: još ste u grijesima svojijem. 18Dakle i oni koji pomriješe u Hristu, izgiboše. 19I ako se samo u ovom životu uzdamo u Hrista, najnesreæniji smo od sviju ljudi.

Matthew 21.18-22 (Gospel)

18A ujutru vraæajuæi se u grad ogladnje. 19I ugledavši smokvu jednu kraj puta doðe k njoj, i ne naðe ništa na njoj do lišæa sama, i reèe joj: da nikad na tebi ne bude roda dovijeka. I odmah usahnu smokva. 20I vidjevši to uèenici diviše se govoreæi: kako odmah usahnu smokva! 21A Isus odgovarajuæi reèe im: zaista vam kažem: ako imate vjeru i ne posumnjate, ne samo smokveno uèiniæete, nego i gori ovoj ako reèete: digni se i baci se u more, biæe. 22I sve što uzištete u molitvi vjerujuæi, dobiæete.

Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Euplus of Catania (304)

He was a deacon from Catania in Sicily during the reign of Diocletian. During a persecution of Christians there, Euplus presented himself to the governor and proclaimed himself a Christian. While he was being tortured on the rack, the governor ordered him to worship Mars, Apollos, and Aeculapius, but he answered that he worshipped the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. He was beheaded in 304. His wonderworking relics are preserved in the village of Vico della Batonia near Naples.

The Holy Martyr Susanna the Virgin, and those with her (295-296)

She was the daughter of Gavinius, a Christian priest in Rome, and the niece of Pope Gaius. The Emperor Diocletian’s adopted son Maximian wished to marry Susanna, but she had no desire to marry any one, least of all a pagan. The patricians Claudia and Maxima were sent to Susanna by the Emperor to present Maximian’s suit; but instead she turned both of them, and all their households, to the Faith. The enraged Emperor had Claudia, Maxima and their families executed, then had Susanna herself beheaded. The Emperor’s wife, Serena, was a secret Christian, and took Susanna’s body secretly and buried it. Soon after this Susanna’s father Gavinius and her uncle Pope Gaius also met martyrdom.

Saint Niphon, Patriarch of Constantinople (1508)

He was born in Greece and became a monk at a young age, spending many years in asceticism on the Holy Mountain. Against his desire, he was made Bishop of Thessalonika, then Patriarch of Constantinople. He was banished by the Sultan (the Prologue does not say why), served as archbishop in Wallachia for a time, then returned to Dionysiou monastery on the Holy Mountain, where he reposed at the age of ninety. He composed the ‘Prayer at Departing’ used in the funeral service.

Repose of Fr Georges Florovsky (1979) (July 29 OC)