Hebrews 5.11-6.8 (Epistle)

11Za kojega bismo vam imali mnogo govoriti što je teško iskazati; jer ste postali slabi na slušanju. 12Jer vi koji bi valjalo da ste uèitelji po godinama, opet trebujete da uèite koje su prva slova rijeèi Božije; i postadoste da trebate mlijeka, a ne jake hrane. 13Jer koji se god hrani mlijekom, ne razumije rijeèi pravde, jer je dijete. 14A savršenijeh je tvrda hrana, koji imaju osjeæanja dugijem uèenjem obuèena za razlikovanje i dobra i zla.

1Zato da ostavimo poèetak Hristove nauke i da se damo na savršenstvo: da ne postavljamo opet temelja pokajanja od mrtvijeh djela, i vjere u Boga, 2Nauke krštenja, i metanja ruku, i vaskrsenija mrtvijeh, i suda vjeènoga. 3I ovo æemo uèiniti ako Bog dopusti. 4Jer nije moguæe one koji su jednom prosvijetljeni, i okusili dara nebeskoga, postali zajednièari Duha svetoga, 5I okusili dobre rijeèi Božije, i sile onoga svijeta, i otpali, 6Opet obnoviti na pokajanje, jer sami sebi nanovo raspinju i ruže sina Božijega. 7Jer zemlja koja pije dažd što èesto na nju pada, i koja raða povræe dobro onima koji je rade, prima blagoslov od Boga; 8A koja iznosi trnje i èièak, nepotrebna je i kletve blizu, koja se najposlije sažeže.

Mark 8.30-34 (Gospel)

30I zaprijeti im da nikom ne kazuju za njega. 31I poèe ih uèiti da sinu èovjeèijemu valja mnogo postradati, i da æe ga okriviti starješine i glavari sveštenièki i književnici, i da æe ga ubiti, i treæi dan da æe ustati. 32I govoraše o tom ne ustruèavajuæi se. I Petar uze ga i poèe ga odvraæati. 33A on obrnuvši se i pogledavši na uèenike svoje zaprijeti Petru govoreæi: idi od mene sotono; jer ti ne misliš što je Božije nego što je ljudsko. 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.

Holy Prophet Haggai (ca. 520 BC)

He was born in Babylon, of the priestly tribe of Levi, during the captivity of the Jews. After their return to Jerusalem, the Jews began to rebuild the Temple and to worship there according to the Law, but were discouraged by opposition from the local population (many of them Jews who had not gone into captivity). So God raised up the holy Prophets Haggai and Zechariah (February 8) to stir the people to complete their sacred work. Haggai’s prophecies reveal that the drought that the Hebrews were suffering was brought about by their failure to complete the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and would only end when they rededicated themselves to their work. He is ranked tenth among the minor Prophets.

Holy Empress and Wonderworker Theophano (893)

She was born to noble parents in Constantinople. Beautiful and pious, she was chosen by the Emperor Basil (867-886) to be the bride of his son Leo VI the Wise. When Leo ascended the throne, the Empress showed no attraction to the honors and pleasures of the royal life, but devoted her days to prayer and almsgiving. She fulfilled all the duties of her Imperial station while living a life of austerity whenever out of the world’s sight. Beneath her rich garments she wore coarse haircloth, and kept fasts and vigils as if she were living the monastic life. She was humble and respectful to all, and would address even her servants as ‘Master’ or ‘Mistress.’ At night, after her servants had left her alone, she would leave her fine bed and sleep on a mat on the floor, rising often during the night to pray.

After her daughter Eudocia died in 892, she wished to leave the world and enter a monastery, but her spiritual father St Euthymius (August 5) would not give his blessing. Nonetheless, her time in the world was not long: only three years later she died, before she had reached the age of thirty. Immediately after her funeral in the Church of the Holy Apostles, her holy relics became the source of many miracles and healings, and are venerated to this day in the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople.