Nativity Fast — Fish, Wine and Oil are Allowed
16A jedanaest uèenika otidoše u Galileju u goru kuda im je kazao Isus. 17I kad ga vidješe, pokloniše mu se; a jedni posumnjaše. 18I pristupivši Isus reèe im govoreæi: dade mi se svaka vlast na nebu i na zemlji. 19Idite dakle i nauèite sve narode krsteæi ih va ime oca i sina i svetoga Duha, 20Uèeæi ih da sve drže što sam vam zapovijedao; i evo ja sam s vama u sve dane do svršetka vijeka. Amin.
4Ali Bog, koji je bogat u milosti, za premnogu ljubav svoju, koju ima k nama, 5I nas koji bijasmo mrtvi od grijehova oživlje s Hristom blagodaæu ste spaseni 6I s njim vaskrse i posadi na nebesima u Hristu Isusu. 7Da pokaže u vijekovima koji idu preveliko bogatstvo blagodati svoje dobrotom na nama u Hristu Isusu. 8Jer ste blagodaæu spaseni kroz vjeru; i to nije od vas, dar je Božij. 9Ne od djela, da se niko ne pohvali. 10Jer smo njegov posao, sazdani u Hristu Isusu za djela dobra, koja Bog naprijed pripravi da u njima hodimo.
10A kad uèaše u jednoj zbornici u subotu, 11I gle, bješe ondje žena bolesna od duha osamnaest godina, i bješe zgrèena, i ne mogaše se ispraviti. 12A kad je vidje, dozva je Isus i reèe joj: ženo! oproštena si od bolesti svoje. 13I metnu na nju ruke, i odmah se ispravi i hvaljaše Boga. 14A starješina od zbornice srðaše se što je Isus iscijeli u subotu, i odgovarajuæi reèe narodu: šest je dana u koje treba raditi, u one dakle dolazite te se lijeèite, a ne u dan subotni. 15A Gospod mu odgovori i reèe: licemjere! svaki od vas u subotu ne odrješuje li svojega vola ili magarca od jasala, i ne vodi da napoji? 16A ovu kæer Avraamovu koju sveza sotona evo osamnaesta godina, ne trebaše li je odriješiti iz ove sveze u dan subotni? 17I kad on ovo govoraše stiðahu se svi koji mu se protivljahu; i sav narod radovaše se za sva njegova slavna djela.
He was born in Constantinople in 715 to pious parents named John and Anna. His mother had prayed often to the most holy Theotokos to be granted a son, and received a revelation from our Lady that she would conceive the son she desired. When the child was born, she named him Stephen, following a prophecy of the Patriarch St Germanos (commemorated May 12). Stephen entered monastic life as a youth, and so distinguished himself in asceticism and virtue that the hermits of Mt Auxentius appointed him their leader at a young age. ‘During the reign of Constantine V (741-775), Stephen showed his love of Orthodoxy in contending for the Faith… Besides being a fierce Iconoclast, Constantine raised up a ruthless persecution of monasticism. He held a council in 754 that anathematized the holy icons. Because Saint Stephen rejected this council, the Emperor framed false accusations against him and exiled him. But while in exile Saint Stephen performed healings with holy icons and turned many away from Iconoclasm. When he was brought before the Emperor again, he showed him a coin and asked whose image the coin bore. “Mine,” said the tyrant. “If any man trample upon thine image, is he liable to punishment?” asked the Saint. When they that stood by answered yes, the Saint groaned because of their blindness, and said if they thought dishonouring the image of a corruptible king worthy of punishment, what torment would they receive who trampled upon the image of the Master Christ and of the Mother of God? Then he threw the coin to the ground and trampled on it. He was condemned to eleven months in bonds and imprisonment. Later, he was dragged over the earth and was stoned, like Stephen the First Martyr; wherefore he is called Stephen the New. Finally, he was struck with a wooden club on the temple and his head was shattered, and thus he gave up his spirit in the year 767.’ (Great Horologion)