Titus 1.5-2.1 (Epistle)

5Zato te ostavih u Kritu da popraviš što je nedovršeno, i da postaviš po svijem gradovima sveštenike, kao što ti ja zapovjedih, 6Ako je ko bez mane, jedne žene muž, i ima vjernu djecu, koju ne kore za kurvarstvo ili za nepokornost. 7Jer vladika treba da je bez mane, kao Božij pristav; ne koji sebi ugaða, ne gnjevljiv, ne pijanica, ne bojac, ne lakom na pogani dobitak; 8Nego gostoljubiv, blag, pošten, pravedan, svet, èist; 9Koji se drži vjerne rijeèi po nauci, da bude kadar i svjetovati sa zdravom naukom, i pokarati one koji se protive. 10Jer ima mnogo neposlušnijeh, praznogovorljivijeh, i umom prevarenijeh, a osobito koji su iz obrezanja, 11Kojima treba usta zatvoriti; koji cijele kuæe izopaèuju uèeæi što ne treba, poganoga dobitka radi. 12A reèe neko od njih, njihov prorok: Kriæani svagda lažljivi, zli zvjerovi, besposleni trbusi. 13Svjedoèanstvo je ovo istinito; zaradi toga uzroka karaj ih bez šteðenja, da budu zdravi u vjeri, 14Ne slušajuæi Jevrejskijeh gatalica ni zapovijesti ljudi koji se odvraæaju od istine. 15Èistima je sve èisto; a poganima i nevjernima ništa nije èisto, nego je opoganjen njihov i um i savjest. 16Govore da poznaju Boga, a djelima ga se odrièu; jer su mrski i neposlušni, i ni za kakvo dobro djelo valjani.

1A ti govori što pristoji zdravoj nauci:

Luke 21.28-33 (Gospel)

28A kad se poène ovo zbivati, gledajte i podignite glave svoje; jer se približuje izbavljenje vaše. 29I kaza im prièu: gledajte na smokvu i na sva drveta; 30Kad vidite da veæ potjeraju, sami znate da je blizu ljeto. 31Tako i vi kad vidite ovo da se zbiva, znajte da je blizu carstvo Božije. 32Zaista vam kažem da ovaj naraštaj neæe proæi dok se ovo sve ne zbude. 33Nebo i zemlja proæi æe, a rijeèi moje neæe proæi.

Holy Martyrs Menas, Hermogenes and Eugraphus (235)

Menas was an Athenian, a courtier of the Emperor Maximinus, and a secret Christian. Once there was an outbreak of civil unrest in Alexandria, brought about by various political factions, and by the increasing success of Christian missionaries in turning the Alexandrian people from the idols. The Emperor sent Menas to reconcile the parties and settle the dispute. On his arrival, Menas quickly resolved the political troubles and restored peace to the city; but instead of putting down Christianity as the Emperor had desired, he did everything in his power to protect the Christians and encourage the spread of the Gospel. When word of this came to the Emperor, he sent another trusted courtier, Hermogenes, to re-establish Imperial authority and to execute Menas if he would not renounce Christ. Hermogenes followed these orders scrupulously: he subjected the godly Menas to various horrid tortures in the public arena. But Menas was miraculously preserved through them all, and when he finally appeared in the arena, flanked by two shining Angels, Hermogenes repented and confessed Christ. He in turn became such a fervent advocate for the Gospel that he was soon made a Bishop (!). Finally the Emperor decided that the only solution was to come to Alexandria himself. There he had both Menas and Hermogenes cruelly tortured to death in secret, lest they perform any public miracles; but when the Emperor presented himself before the people at the arena the following day, the two Saints, miraculously preserved, appeared there also, causing the people to cry out “Christ is the only true God!” At the sight, Menas’ scribe Eugraphus declared himself a Christian, leaped into the arena and publicly demanded the honor of dying with them. All three were beheaded. Their precious relics were later taken to Constantinople, where they worked many miracles.