Romans 7.1-13 (Epistle)

1Ili ne znate, braæo jer govorim onima koji znadu zakon da zakon vlada nad èovjekom dokle je živ? 2Jer je udata žena privezana zakonom za muža dokle god on živi; a ako li muž njezin umre, razdriješi se od zakona muževljega. 3Zato dakle dok joj je muž živ biva preljuboèinica ako poðe za drugog muža; a ako joj umre muž prosta je od zakona da ne bude preljuboèinica ako poðe za drugoga. 4Zato, braæo moja, i vi umrijeste zakonu tijelom Hristovijem, da budete drugoga, onoga što usta iz mrtvijeh, da plod donesemo Bogu. 5Jer kad bijasmo u tijelu, bijahu slasti grjehovne, koje zakon raðahu u udima našima da se smrti plod donosi. 6A sad umrvši izbavismo se od zakona koji nas držaše, da služimo Bogu) u obnovljenju Duha a ne u starini slova. 7Šta æemo dakle reæi? Je li zakon grijeh? Bože saèuvaj! nego ja grijeha ne poznah osim kroz zakon; jer ne znadoh za želju da zakon ne kaza: ne zaželi. 8A grijeh uze poèetak kroz zapovijest, i naèini u meni svaku želju; jer je grijeh bez zakona mrtav. 9A ja življah nekad bez zakona; a kad doðe zapovijest, onda grijeh oživlje, 10A ja umrijeh, i naðe se da mi zapovijest bi za smrt koja bješe data za život. 11Jer grijeh uzevši poèetak kroz zapovijest prevari me, i ubi me njome. 12Tako je dakle zakon svet i zapovijest sveta i pravedna i dobra. 13Dobro li dakle bi meni smrt? Bože saèuvaj! nego grijeh, da se pokaže grijeh dobrom èineæi mi smrt, da bude grijeh odviše grješan zapoviješæu.

Matthew 9.36-10.8 (Gospel)

36A gledajuæi ljude sažali mu se, jer bijahu smeteni i rasijani kao ovce bez pastira. 37Tada reèe uèenicima svojijem: žetve je mnogo, a poslenika malo. 38Molite se dakle gospodaru od žetve da izvede poslenike na žetvu svoju.

1I dozvavši svojijeh dvanaest uèenika dade im vlast nad duhovima neèistijem da ih izgone, i da iscjeljuju od svake bolesti i svake nemoæi. 2A dvanaest apostola imena su ova: prvi Simon, koji se zove Petar, i Andrija brat njegov; Jakov Zevedejev, i Jovan brat njegov; 3Filip i Vartolomije; Toma i Matej carinik; Jakov Alfejev, i Levej prozvani Tadija; 4Simon Kananit, i Juda Iskariotski, koji ga i predade. 5Ovijeh dvanaest posla Isus i zapovjedi im govoreæi: na put neznabožaca ne idite, i u grad Samarjanski ne ulazite. 6Nego idite k izgubljenijem ovcama doma Izrailjeva. 7A hodeæi propovijedajte i kazujte da se približilo carstvo nebesko. 8Bolesne iscjeljujte, gubave èistite, mrtve dižite, ðavole izgonite; zabadava ste dobili, zabadava i dajite.

Holy Prophet Amos (8th c. BC)

He was an unlearned shepherd from the village of Tekoa in Zabulon, near Bethlehem. His prophecies, made during the reign of King Uzziah, make up the Old Testament book which bears his name. He is ranked third among the “minor prophets” of the Old Testament.

Holy Martyr Vitus, with Modestus and Crescentia (303)

“St Vitus was born in Sicily of eminent pagan parents. Modestus was his tutor and Crescentia his governess. St Vitus was baptised early and, when only twelve years old, began to live an intensive ascetic life. Angels appeared to him, instructing him and encouraging him in his labours, and he was himself as radiant and handsome as an angel of God. A judge who beat him had the flesh of his arm wither away, but Vitus healed it by his prayers. His father was blinded when he saw twelve angels in his room ‘with eyes like stars and faces like lightning’, but Vitus restored his sight by his prayers. When his father sought to kill him, an angel appeared to him and took him to Lucania on the bank of the river Silaris, together with Modestus and Crescentia. St Vitus performed many miracles there for the sick and insane. He went to Rome at the summons of the Emperor Diocletian and drove out an evil spirit from his son. Far from rewarding him, the Emperor tortured him cruelly when he would not bow down before mute idols, but the Lord delivered him from torture and returned him to Lucania by His invisible arm, and there he and Modestus and Crescentia entered into rest in the Lord. St Vitus’ relics are preserved in Prague.” (Prologue)

In the West, St Vitus’ aid is often invoked for the cure of many ailments, especially insanity and demonic possession. For this reason his name is given to St Vitus’ dance, an acute neurological illness that produces uncontrollable movements in the face and limbs, usually occurring in children.

Blessed Augustine, bishop of Hippo (430), and his mother Monica (387)

After seeking truth among many religious schools, including the Manicheans, Augustine was turned to faith in Christ through the cousel and fervent prayers of his mother St Monica. The story of his early life and conversion is beautifully told in his Confessions. He lived for seventy-six years, the last thirty-five as bishop of Hippo in north Africa. He died in a barbarian attack on that city.

In recent years, a few Orthodox writers have tried to deny that Augustine is a Saint of the Orthodox church (mostly due to some theological errors in his writings which have been unduly promoted in the Latin church). These claims are false: from the time of his canonization, he has been commemorated as a Saint.

Holy Martyr Lazar, Prince of Serbia (1389)

“He was one of the greatest men of Serbia who ruled the kingdom after king Dušan. Upon the death of King Uroš, Lazar was crowned King of Serbia by Patriarch Ephraim. He sent a delegation to Constantinople, including a monk called Isaiah, to plead for the removing of the anathema from the Serbian people. He went to war on several occasions against the Turkish Pasha, finally clashing with the Turkish king, Amurât, at Kosovo on June 15, 1389, being slain there. His body was taken to Ravanica near Cupria, a foundation of his, and buried there, but was later taken to New Ravanica in Srem. During the Second World War, in 1942, it was taken to Belgrade and placed in the Cathedral, where it is preserved to this day and offers comfort and healing to all who turn to him in prayer. He restored Hilandar and Gornjak, built Ravanica and the Lazarica in Kruševac and was the founder of St Panteleimon, the Russian monastery on the Holy Mountain, as well as numerous other churches and monasteries.” (Prologue)