Ephesians 2.19-3.7 (Epistle)

19Tako dakle više nijeste tuði i došljaci, nego živite sa svetima i domaæi ste Bogu, 20Nazidani na temelju apostola i proroka, gdje je kamen od ugla sam Isus Hristos, 21Na kome sva graðevina sastavljena raste za crkvu svetu u Gospodu; 22Na kome æete se i vi sazidati za stan Božij u duhu.

1Toga sam radi ja Pavle sužanj Isusa Hrista za vas neznabošce, 2Buduæi da èuste službu blagodati Božije koja je meni dana meðu vama, 3Da se meni po otkrivenju kaza tajna; kao što gore napisah ukratko, 4Odakle možete èitajuæi poznati moj razum u tajni Hristovoj, 5Koja se u drugijem naraštajima ne kaza sinovima èovjeèijim, kako se sad otkri svetijem njegovijem apostolima i prorocima Duhom svetijem; 6Da neznabošci kroz jevanðelje postanu sunašljednici i sutjelesnici i zajednièari u obeæanju njegovom u Hristu Isusu, 7Kojemu postadoh sluga po daru blagodati Božije, koja mi je dana po èinjenju sile njegove.

Luke 8.1-3 (Gospel)

1Poslije toga iðaše on po gradovima i po selima uèeæi i propovijedajuæi jevanðelje o carstvu Božijemu, i dvanaestorica s njim. 2I neke žene koje bijahu iscijeljene od zlijeh duhova i bolesti: Marija, koja se zvaše Magdalina, iz koje sedam ðavola iziðe, 3I Jovana, žena Huze pristava Irodova, i Susana, i druge mnoge koje služahu njemu imanjem svojijem.

St Symeon the New Theologian (1022)

As a young man he became a monk in the Studite Monastery in Constantinople; later he bacame abbot of the Monastery of St Mamas, also in Constantinople. After a life of great asceticism, including many trials, criticisms and afflictions, he reposed in peace. (He reposed on March 12, but since this day always falls during the Great Fast, his feast is kept today.) His teaching on the soul’s ability to enter directly into communion with God in this life aroused some opposition in his own time, and the title ‘New Theologian’ was not always applied in a positive sense. His experiential, mystical teachings are firmly rooted in his doctrine of the Church: his writings contain many powerful affirmations of the centrality of participation in the Mysteries in our struggle for salvation. He is the author of many sublimely beautiful sermons, writings and hymns, a number of them in metered verse. With St John the Evangelist and St Gregory, Patriarch of Constantinople, he is one of only three whom the Church has officially called “Theologian.”

Holy Martyrs Probus, Tarachus and Andronicus (304)

All three suffered during the reign of Diocletian. Though born in three different places, the three were found to be Christians at Pompeiopolis in Cilicia, arrested together, and brought before the Governor, Numerian Maximus. Tarachus was sixty-five years old at the time of his arrest, but his captors showed no respect for his age, tormenting him as cruelly as the others. All three immediately and boldly confessed their faith, and were put to many vicious tortures, during which Probus said to Maximus, ‘This bloodshed is oil and perfume for me to anoint myself with joy for further contests.’ At one point the persecutors forcibly stuffed Andronicus’ mouth with meat and wine that had been offered to idols, thinking that in doing so they were winning a victory. Andronicus only mocked them, explaining that only wilful apostasy brings defeat to a Christian.

Finally, Maximus ordered them taken to the theater and thrown to wild beasts for the entertainment of the people. Though the beasts had just torn others to pieces, they would not touch the holy martyrs, but played and fawned around them: A ferocious bear licked their wounds, and a lioness played affectionately around Tarachus. Seeing this, many in the crowd believed in Christ and denounced the Governor. The furious Maximus ordered his soldiers to enter the arena and cut the three to pieces. Three Christians who had witnessed the spectacle came by night to retrieve their bodies, but were unable to distinguish the martyrs’ relics amid the general carnage. When they prayed for divine aid, three lights appeared above the bodies of the three holy ones, and they were given honorable burial in a mountain cave.