Hebrews 4.1-13 (Epistle)

1Da se bojimo dakle da kako dok je još ostavljeno obeæanje da se ulazi u pokoj njegov, ne odocni koji od vas. 2Jer je nama objavljeno kao i onima; ali onima ne pomaže èuvena rijeè, jer ne vjerovaše oni koji èuše. 3Jer mi koji vjerovasmo ulazimo u pokoj, kao što reèe: zato se zakleh u gnjevu svojemu da neæe uæi u pokoj moj, ako su djela i bila gotova od postanja svijeta. 4Jer negdje reèe za sedmi dan ovako: i poèinu Bog u dan sedmi od sviju djela svojijeh. 5I na ovom mjestu opet: neæe uæi u pokoj moj. 6Buduæi pak da neki imaju da uðu u njega, i oni kojima je najprije javljeno ne uðoše za neposlušanje; 7Opet odredi jedan dan, danas, govoreæi u Davidu po tolikom vremenu, kao što se prije kaza: danas ako glas njegov èujete, ne budite drvenastijeh srca. 8Jer da je Isus one doveo u pokoj, ne bi za drugi dan govorio potom. 9Daklem je ostavljeno još poèivanje narodu Božijemu. 10Jer koji uðe u pokoj njegov, i on poèiva od djela svojijeh, kao i Bog od svojijeh. 11Da se postaramo dakle uæi u taj pokoj, da ne upadne ko u onu istu gatku nevjerstva. 12Jer je živa rijeè Božija, i jaka, i oštrija od svakoga maèa oštra s obje strane, i prolazi tja do rastavljanja i duše i duha, i zglavaka i mozga, i sudi mislima i pomislima srdaènijem. 13I nema tvari nepoznate pred njim, nego je sve golo i otkriveno pred oèima onoga kojemu govorimo.

Mark 8.22-26 (Gospel)

22I doðe u Vitsaidu; i dovedoše k njemu slijepa, i moljahu ga da ga se dotakne. 23I uzevši za ruku slijepoga izvede ga napolje iz sela, i pljunuvši mu u oèi metnu ruke na nj, i zapita ga vidi li što. 24I pogledavši reèe: vidim ljude gdje idu kao drva. 25I potom opet metnu mu ruke na oèi, i reèe mu da pogleda: i iscijeli se, i vidje sve lijepo. 26I posla ga kuæi njegovoj govoreæi: ne ulazi u selo, niti kazuj kome u selu.

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.