Philippians 3.8-19 (Epistle)

8Jer sve držim za štetu prema prevažnome poznanju Hrista Isusa Gospoda svojega, kojega radi sve ostavih, i držim sve da su trice, samo da Hrista dobijem, 9I da se naðem u njemu, ne imajuæi svoje pravde koja je od zakona, nego koja je od vjere Isusa Hrista, pravdu koja je od Boga u vjeri; 10Da poznam njega i silu vaskrsenija njegova i zajednicu njegovijeh muka, da budem nalik na smrt njegovu, 11Da bih kako dostigao u vaskrsenije mrtvijeh; 12Ne kao da veæ dostigoh ili se veæ savrših, nego tjeram ne bih li dostigao kao što me dostiže Hristos Isus. 13Braæo! ja još ne mislim da sam dostigao; jedno pak velim: što je ostrag zaboravljam, a za onijem što je naprijed sežem se, 14I trèim k biljezi, k daru gornjega zvanja Božijega u Hristu Isusu. 15Koji smo god dakle savršeni ovako da mislimo; ako li što drugo mislite, i ovo æe vam Bog otkriti. 16Ali šta dostigosmo u onome jednako da mislimo, i po onome pravilu da živimo. 17Ugledajte se na mene, braæo, i gledajte na one koji tako žive kao što nas imate za ugled. 18Jer mnogi hode, za koje vam mnogo puta govorih, a sad i plaèuæi govorim, neprijatelji krsta Hristova; 19Kojima je svršetak pogibao, kojima je Bog trbuh, i slava u sramu njihovu, koji zemaljski misle.

Luke 12.2-12 (Gospel)

2Jer ništa nije sakriveno što se neæe otkriti, ni tajno što se neæe doznati; 3Jer što u mraku rekoste, èuæe se na vidjelu; i što na uho šaptaste u klijetima, propovijedaæe se na krovovima. 4Ali vam kažem, prijateljima svojijem: ne bojte se od onijeh koji ubijaju tijelo i potom ne mogu ništa više uèiniti. 5Nego æu vam kazati koga da se bojite: bojte se onoga koji ima vlast pošto ubije baciti u pakao; da, kažem vam, onoga se bojte. 6Ne prodaje li se pet vrabaca za dva dinara? i nijedan od njih nije zaboravljen pred Bogom. 7A u vas je i kosa na glavi izbrojena. Ne bojte se dakle; vi ste bolji od mnogo vrabaca. 8Nego vam kažem: koji god prizna mene pred ljudima priznaæe i sin èovjeèij njega pred anðelima Božijim; 9A koji se odreèe mene pred ljudima njega æe se odreæi pred anðelima Božijim. 10I svaki koji reèe rijeè na sina èovjeèijega oprostiæe mu se, a koji huli na svetoga Duha neæe mu se oprostiti. 11A kad vas dovedu u zbornice i na sudove i pred poglavare, ne brinite se kako æete ili šta odgovoriti, ili šta æete kazati; 12Jer æe vas sveti Duh nauèiti u onaj èas šta treba reæi.

Holy Martyrs Galaction and Episteme (ca. 250)

A pagan couple, Cleitophon and Leucippe, who lived in Emesa in the reign of the Emperor Decius, were grieved that they were unable to have children. One day a monk named Onuphrius came to their door seeking alms to give to the poor, and seeing Leucippe’s downcast face, asked her what was wrong. When she replied that she was barren, Onuphrius told her that this was by God’s providence, to prevent their child from being given over to idolatry, and that if they accepted Christ she would bear a child. Leucippe was baptized into the Faith and bore a son not long after, which in turn brought her husband to faith in Christ. The son was named Galaction in baptism.

Years later, Galaction’s father, now widowed, decided that Galaction should marry a pagan maiden named Episteme. Galaction married out of obedience, but would not approach Episteme’s bed since she was a pagan. In time, he convinced her of the truth of the Faith and baptised her himself. Not long after she was told in a dream of the glory that awaits those who consecrate themselves wholly to God. When she told her husband of the dream, they both resolved to remain in virginity, settling in separate monastic communities near to one another.

In one of the Emperor’s persecutions of Christians, Galaction was seized by imperial soldiers and taken away to be killed. Episteme, told in a vision of his arrest, asked the blessing of her abbess to join him in martyrdom. Receiving it, she hurried to Galaction’s place of imprisonment, boldly announced her faith in Christ, and after many tortures and humiliations husband and wife were beheaded together.

Holy Apostles Patrobas, Hermas, Linus, Gaius and Philologus

They are numbered among the Seventy Disciples of the Lord.

Saint Hermas and Saint Patrobolus are both mentioned by St Paul in Romans 16:4. Saint Hermas became Bishop of Philippi. Some believe him to be the author of The Shepherd, which was so cherished by the early Church that is included in some early versions of the New Testament. Saint Patrobolus became Bishop of Pozzuoli in Italy.

Saint Linus (mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:21) was ordained by St Peter as first Bishop of Rome. He was martyred, perhaps in AD 76.

Saint Gaius (mentioned in Romans 16:23, where we learn that St Paul stayed with him in Corinth), succeeded St Timothy as Bishop of Ephesus.

Saint Philologus (mentioned in Romans 16:15), was made Bishop of Sinope in Pontus by the Apostle Andrew.

Our Holy Father Gregory the Confessor, Patriarch of Alexandria (early 9th c.)

This much-loved shepherd of the Church at Alexandria was unanimously elected to the Patriarchate by the Bishops and people of that city. Though meek and humble, he was a fierce defender of holy Orthodoxy, which was then under attack by the Emperor Leo the Armenian (813-820). For his fearless defense of the holy Icons, Gregory was arrested at the Emperor’s orders and brought in chains to Constantinople. Brought before Leo, the holy Patriarch told him clearly that he was a heretic and an enemy of the Church. The enraged Emperor had Gregory scourged, then sent into exile, where he reposed three years later.