Hebrews 4.1-13 (Epistle)

1Să luăm, dar, bine seama, că atâta vreme cât rămâne în picioare făgăduinţa intrării în odihna Lui, niciunul din voi să nu se pomenească venit prea târziu. 2Căci şi nouă ni s-a adus o veste bună ca şi lor; dar lor Cuvântul care le-a fost propovăduit, nu le-a ajutat la nimic, pentru că n-a găsit credinţă la cei ce l-au auzit. 3Pe când noi, fiindcă am crezut, intrăm în „odihna” despre care a vorbit El când a zis: „Am jurat în mânia Mea că nu vor intra în odihna Mea!” Măcar că lucrările Lui fuseseră isprăvite încă de la întemeierea lumii. 4Căci într-un loc a vorbit astfel despre ziua a şaptea: „Dumnezeu S-a odihnit în ziua a şaptea de toate lucrările Lui.” 5Şi aici este zis iarăşi: „Nu vor intra în odihna Mea!” 6Deci, fiindcă rămâne ca să intre unii în odihna aceasta şi pentru că aceia cărora li s-a vestit întâi vestea bună n-au intrat în ea, din pricina neascultării lor, 7El hotărăşte din nou o zi: „astăzi” – zicând, în David, după atâta vreme, cum s-a spus mai sus: „Astăzi, dacă auziţi glasul Lui, nu vă împietriţi inimile!” 8Căci, dacă le-ar fi dat Iosua odihna, n-ar mai vorbi Dumnezeu după aceea de o altă zi. 9Rămâne, dar, o odihnă ca cea de Sabat pentru poporul lui Dumnezeu. 10Fiindcă cine intră în odihna Lui se odihneşte şi el de lucrările lui, cum S-a odihnit Dumnezeu de lucrările Sale. 11Să ne grăbim, dar, să intrăm în odihna aceasta, pentru ca nimeni să nu cadă în aceeaşi pildă de neascultare. 12Căci Cuvântul lui Dumnezeu este viu şi lucrător, mai tăietor decât orice sabie cu două tăişuri: pătrunde până acolo că desparte sufletul şi duhul, încheieturile şi măduva, judecă simţirile şi gândurile inimii. 13Nicio făptură nu este ascunsă de El, ci totul este gol şi descoperit înaintea ochilor Aceluia cu care avem a face.

Mark 8.22-26 (Gospel)

22Au venit la Betsaida; au adus la Isus un orb şi L-au rugat să Se atingă de el. 23Isus a luat pe orb de mână şi l-a scos afară din sat; apoi i-a pus scuipat pe ochi, Şi-a pus mâinile peste el şi l-a întrebat: „Vezi ceva?” 24El s-a uitat şi a zis: „Văd nişte oameni umblând, dar mi se par ca nişte copaci.” 25Isus i-a pus din nou mâinile pe ochi; i-a spus să se uite ţintă; şi, când s-a uitat, a fost tămăduit şi a văzut toate lucrurile desluşit. 26Atunci Isus l-a trimis acasă şi i-a zis: „Să nu intri în sat şi nici să nu spui cuiva în sat.”

Holy Hieromartyr Eleutherius, Bishop of Illyria, and those with him (126)

His name is a form of the Greek word for “freedom.” He was a native of Rome whose father died at a young age, leaving him to be brought up by his mother Anthia, a Christian who reared him in the fear of God and the love of holiness. His virtue and ability were so evident that he was ordained a priest at the age of seventeen and at twenty was made Bishop of Illyria, a large see roughly comprising modern-day Serbia.

The young bishop’s pastoral and evangelistic work was so successful that many pagans were converted to the Faith through him. His growing reputation drew the attention of the Emperor Hadrian, who sent one of his senior officers named Felix to arrest the holy bishop. But when Felix saw and heard Eleutherius, he was captivated by his teaching, believed in Christ, and was baptized. He and the St Eleutherius returned and presented themselves together before the Emperor, fearlessly confessing their faith.

Eleutherius was subjected to brutal torture, during which the city prefect Coremonus, who had suggested some of the tortures, was enlightened through the Saint’s prayers for his enemies, and proclaimed Christ. He was baptized by Eleutherius and later beheaded. After a time, when it became clear that fire and torture would not move the holy bishop, he was taken to the amphitheater and beheaded. At the moment of his death, his mother Anthia rushed forward and took his body in her arms. There she also was beheaded by the executioners.

Pregnant women call on St Eleutherius that they may have a safe delivery.

Holy Martyr Eleutherius the Cubicularius (4th c.)

He was from a noble family in Constantinople, and rose to the rank of Cubicularius (Chamberlain). He was not only a counselor to, but a close friend of, the Emperor (probably Julian the Apostate). But Eleutherius was increasingly moved by a desire to become a Christian; so, obtaining a leave from the Imperial court, he moved to the countryside in Bithynia, where he was baptized. There he built a house that concealed an underground chapel.

When Eleutherius returned to court, some jealous courtiers denounced him to the Emperor, who visited Eleutherius’ country house and was furious to discover the underground church. When the Saint would not renounce his faith in Christ, the Emperor, ignoring all previous bonds of friendship, had him beheaded.

Holy Martyr Bacchus the New (787)

During the reign of Constantine VI and Irene, restorers of the holy icons, the Holy Land was under the control of the Muslim Arabs. Many Christians there apostatized, putting honors and security in this world above their eternal joy. One of these was the father of this Saint, who brought up seven children as Muslims. His wife however, never renounced her Faith and prayed constantly for the conversion of her husband and children. Upon the death of the father, her third son Dachak declared that he wished to become a Christian. He was baptized in the Monastery of St Sabas near Jerusalem, receiving the name Bacchus, and determined to be a monk. But the abbot, fearing reprisals against the Monastery, sent him back to his home in Jerusalem. His brothers, seeing his joy and boldness in confessing the Faith, decided to receive holy Baptism, except for one, who denounced Bacchus to the authorities. He was arrested and brought before the judge and, when he proved steadfast in his confession of Christ, was beheaded.

Our Venerable Father Tryphon of Kola, apostle of Laponia (1583), and his disciple the Holy Martyr Jonah (1590)

Saint Tryphon was the son of a priest from Novgorod. The Synaxarion records that, at the moment of his birth, the verse Blessed is the life of those who dwell in the desert was being sung in the Matins service. In 1525 he was moved by a divine revelation to flee to the far north of Russia and live as a hermit. He settled near the River Kola, where he devoted his nights to prayer, his days to proclaiming the Gospel of Christ to the native peoples there. The pagans were hostile at first, but his patience and humility won them over, and he baptized many. He built them a church with his own hands on the shores of Lake Ladoga, and later founded a monastery there. Saint Tryphon reposed in 1583. He predicted his own death and the coming destruction of the Monastery by the Swedes, which came to pass in 1590. All the monks were massacred. The first victim, Starets Jonah, worked many miracles at the Monastery after its restoration.