Colossians 1.24-29 (Epistle)

24Sad se radujem u svojemu stradanju za vas, i dovršujem nedostatak nevolja Hristovijeh na tijelu svojemu za tijelo njegovo koje je crkva, 25Kojoj ja postadoh sluga po naredbi Božijoj koja mi je dana meðu vama da ispunim rijeè Božiju, 26Tajnu koja je bila sakrivena od postanja svijeta i naraštaja, a sad se javi svetima njegovijem, 27Kojima Bog naumi pokazati kako je bogata slava tajne ove meðu neznabošcima, koje je Hristos u vama, nad slave; 28Kojega mi propovijedamo svjetujuæi svakoga èovjeka, i uèeæi svakoj premudrosti, da pokažemo svakoga èovjeka savršena u Hristu Isusu. 29Za što se i trudim i borim po njegovoj moæi koja u meni silno èini.

Luke 13.1-9 (Gospel)

1U to vrijeme pak doðoše neki i kazaše za Galilejce kojijeh krv pomiješa Pilat sa žrtvama njihovijem. 2I odgovarajuæi Isus reèe im: mislite li da su ti Galilejci bili najgrješniji od sviju Galilejaca, jer tako postradaše? 3Ne, kažem vam, nego ako se ne pokajete, svi æete tako izginuti. 4Ili oni osamnaest što na njih pade kula Siloamska i pobi ih, mislite li da su oni najkrivlji bili od sviju Jerusalimljana? 5Ne, kažem vam, nego ako se ne pokajete, svi æete tako izginuti. 6Kaza im pak ovu prièu: jedan èovjek imadijaše smokvu usaðenu u svome vinogradu, i doðe da traži roda na njoj, i ne naðe. 7Onda reèe vinogradaru: evo treæa godina kako dolazim i tražim roda na ovoj smokvi, i ne nalazim; posijeci je dakle, zašto zemlji da smeta? 8A on odgovarajuæi reèe mu: gospodaru! ostavi je i za ovu godinu dok okopam oko nje i obaspem gnojem; 9Pa da ako rodi: ako li ne, posjeæi æeš je na godinu.

Holy Martyr Menas (ca. 304)

This holy Martyr was an Egyptian and a soldier during the reigns of Diocletian and Maximian. Though he was known for his valor in combat, he renounced his soldier’s rank when his legion was ordered to seize Christians in north Africa. Fleeing to the mountains, he dwelt there for some time in silence and solitude, devoting his days to prayer. In time, he presented himself at a pagan festival, denounced the idols and declared himself a Christian. For this he was handed over to the governor of the city, who subjected him to horrible tortures and finally had him beheaded. Some faithful retrieved part of his relics and gave them honorable burial near Lake Mareotis, about thirty miles from Alexandria. The church built over his tomb became a place of pilgrimage not only for countless Egyptians but for Christians all over the world: evidence has been found of journeys to his shrine from as far away as Ireland.

The Synaxarion gives an account of the Saint’s intervention in the Second World War: “In June 1942, during the North-Africa campaign that was decisive for the outcome of the Second World War, the German forces under the command of General Rommel were on their way to Alexandria, and happened to make a halt near a place which the Arabs call El-Alamein after Saint Menas. An ancient ruined church there was dedicated to the Saint; and there some people say he is buried. Here the weaker Allied forces including some Greeks confronted the numerically and militarily superior German army, and the result of the coming battle seemed certain. During the first night of engagement, Saint Menas appeared in the midst of the German camp at the head of a caravan of camels, exactly as he was shown on the walls of the ruined church in one of the frescoes depicting his miracles. This astounding and terrifying apparition so undermined German morale that it contributed to the brilliant victory of the Allies. The Church of Saint Menas was restored in thanksgiving and a small monastery was established there.”

Our Righteous Father Theodore the Studite (826)

“Saint Theodore the Studite was born in Constantinople in 759; his pious parents were named Photinus and Theoctiste. He assumed the monastic habit in his youth, at the monastery called Sakkoudion, and became abbot there in 794. About the year 784 he was ordained deacon, and later presbyter by the most holy Patriarch Tarasius. On joining the brotherhood of the Monastery of Studium (which was named after its founder Studius, a Roman consul), the Saint received the surname “Studite.” He proved to be a fervent zealot for the traditions of the Fathers and contested even unto death for the sake of his reverence for the holy icons. He endured three exiles because of his pious zeal. During the third one, to which he was condemned by the Iconoclast autocrat, Leo the Armenian, he endured courageously being beaten and bound and led from one dark dungeon to another for seven whole years. Finally he was recalled from exile by Michael the Stutterer. Receiving thus a small respite from his labours of long endurance, he reposed in the Lord on November 11, 826, a Sunday, while his disciples, who stood round about him, chanted the 118th Psalm. Some say that after receiving the immaculate Mysteries, he himself began chanting this psalm. And on reaching the verse, “I will never forget Thy statutes, for in them hast Thou quickened me” (v. 93) he gave up his spirit, having lived for sixty-seven years. In addition to his other sacred writings, he composed, with the collaboration of his brother Joseph, almost the whole of the compunctionate book of the Triodion.” (Great Horologion)

St Theodore helped to establish the Studion (or Stoudion) Monastery in Constantinople, and was its Abbot. Under his guidance the Stoudion Monastery became the leading center of Orthodox piety and Byzantine culture of its time. The monks lived a radically common life: they did not even have their own cells, but slept in large dormitories.