2 Corinthians 2.14-3.3 (Epistle)

14Ali hvala Bogu koji svagda nama daje pobjedu u Hristu Isusu, i kroz nas javlja miris poznanja svojega na svakom mjestu. 15Jer smo mi Hristov miris Bogu i meðu onima koji se spasavaju i koji ginu: 16Jednima dakle miris smrtni za smrt, a drugima miris životni za život. I za ovo ko je vrijedan? 17Jer mi nijesmo kao mnogi koji neèisto propovijedaju rijeè Božiju, nego iz èistote, i kao iz Boga, pred Bogom, u Hristu govorimo.

1Poèinjemo li se opet sami hvaliti vama? Ili trebamo kao neki preporuènijeh poslanica na vas ili od vas? 2Jer ste vi naša poslanica napisana u srcima našima, koju poznaju i èitaju svi ljudi; 3Koji ste se pokazali da ste poslanica Hristova, koju smo mi služeæi napisali ne mastilom nego Duhom Boga živoga, ne na kamenijem daskama nego na mesanijem daskama srca.

Matthew 23.23-28 (Gospel)

23Teško vama književnici i fariseji, licemjeri, što dajete desetak od metvice i od kopra i od kima, a ostaviste što je najpretežnije u zakonu: pravdu i milost i vjeru; a ovo je trebalo èiniti i ono ne ostavljati. 24Voði slijepi koji ocjeðujete komarca a kamilu proždirete. 25Teško vama književnici i fariseji, licemjeri, što èistite spolja èašu i zdjelu a iznutra su pune grabeža i nepravde. 26Fariseju slijepi! Oèisti najprije iznutra èašu i zdjelu da budu i spolja èiste. 27Teško vama književnici i fariseji, licemjeri, što ste kao okreèeni grobovi, koji se spolja vide lijepi a unutra su puni kostiju mrtvaèkijeh i svake neèistote. 28Tako i vi spolja se pokazujete ljudima pravedni, a iznutra ste puni licemjerja i bezakonja.

Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Euplus of Catania (304)

He was a deacon from Catania in Sicily during the reign of Diocletian. During a persecution of Christians there, Euplus presented himself to the governor and proclaimed himself a Christian. While he was being tortured on the rack, the governor ordered him to worship Mars, Apollos, and Aeculapius, but he answered that he worshipped the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. He was beheaded in 304. His wonderworking relics are preserved in the village of Vico della Batonia near Naples.

The Holy Martyr Susanna the Virgin, and those with her (295-296)

She was the daughter of Gavinius, a Christian priest in Rome, and the niece of Pope Gaius. The Emperor Diocletian’s adopted son Maximian wished to marry Susanna, but she had no desire to marry any one, least of all a pagan. The patricians Claudia and Maxima were sent to Susanna by the Emperor to present Maximian’s suit; but instead she turned both of them, and all their households, to the Faith. The enraged Emperor had Claudia, Maxima and their families executed, then had Susanna herself beheaded. The Emperor’s wife, Serena, was a secret Christian, and took Susanna’s body secretly and buried it. Soon after this Susanna’s father Gavinius and her uncle Pope Gaius also met martyrdom.

Saint Niphon, Patriarch of Constantinople (1508)

He was born in Greece and became a monk at a young age, spending many years in asceticism on the Holy Mountain. Against his desire, he was made Bishop of Thessalonika, then Patriarch of Constantinople. He was banished by the Sultan (the Prologue does not say why), served as archbishop in Wallachia for a time, then returned to Dionysiou monastery on the Holy Mountain, where he reposed at the age of ninety. He composed the ‘Prayer at Departing’ used in the funeral service.

Repose of Fr Georges Florovsky (1979) (July 29 OC)