1 John 2.7-17 (Epistle)

7Ljubazni! ne pišem vam nove zapovijesti, nego zapovijest staru koju imaste ispoèetka. Zapovijest stara jest rijeè koju èuste ispoèetka. 8Opet vam pišem novu zapovijest, koja je zaista u njemu i u vama; jer tama prolazi, i vidjelo pravo veæ svijetli. 9Koji govori da je u vidjelu, a mrzi na svojega brata, još je u tami. 10Koji ljubi brata svojega, u vidjelu živi, i sablazni u njemu nema. 11A koji mrzi na svojega brata, u tami je, i u tami hodi, i ne zna kuda ide, jer mu tama zaslijepi oèi. 12Pišem vam, djeèice, da vam se opraštaju grijesi imena njegova radi. 13Pišem vam, oci, jer poznaste onoga koji nema poèetka. Pišem vam, mladiæi, jer nadvladaste neèastivoga. Pišem vam, djeco, jer poznaste oca. 14Pisah vam, oci, jer poznaste onoga koji je od poèetka. Pisah vam, mladiæi, jer ste jaki, i rijeè Božija u vama stoji, i nadvladaste neèastivoga. 15Ne ljubite svijeta ni što je na svijetu. Ako ko ljubi svijet, nema ljubavi oèine u njemu. 16Jer sve što je na svijetu, tjelesna želja, i želja oèiju, i ponos života, nije od oca, nego je od ovoga svijeta. 17I svijet prolazi i želja njegova; a koji tvori volju Božiju ostaje dovijeka.

Mark 14.3-9 (Gospel)

3I kad bijaše on u Vitaniji u kuæi Simona gubavoga i sjeðaše za trpezom, doðe žena sa sklenicom mnogocjenoga mira èistoga nardova, i razbivši sklenicu ljevaše mu na glavu. 4A neki se srðahu govoreæi: zašto se to miro prosipa tako? 5Jer se mogaše za nj uzeti više od trista groša i dati siromasima. I vikahu na nju. 6A Isus reèe: ostavite je; šta joj smetate? ona uèini dobro djelo na meni. 7Jer siromahe imate svagda sa sobom, i kad god hoæete možete im dobro èiniti; a mene nemate svagda. 8Ona što može, uèini: ona pomaza naprijed tijelo moje za ukop. 9Zaista vam kažem: gdje se god uspropovijeda jevanðelje ovo po svemu svijetu, kazaæe se i to za spomen njezin.

St Porphyrius, bishop of Gaza (420)

He was born to a wealthy, noble family in Thessalonica around 347. Filled more and more with a yearning for God, he abandoned his worldly possessions and traveled to Egypt, living for five years as a monk at Sketis. From there he went to Palestine, where he lived for another five years in a cave in the Jordan desert. Suffering from a severe ailment, he was forced to move to Jerusalem; there he was suddenly and completely cured following a vision on Golgotha, in which he saw the Good Thief come down from the cross to lead him to Christ, who gave the Cross into his keeping.

Porphyrius took up the trade of a shoemaker in Jerusalem to provide for his few needs. His humility and charity became so well-known that the Bishop of Jerusalem ordained him to the priesthood at the age of forty-five, and made him Stavrophylax, keeper of the True Cross of the Savior — thus fulfilling Porphyrius’ vision on Golgotha. Three years later, much against his will, he was elected Bishop of Gaza.

Throughout his episcopate he was persecuted by the pagans who still dominated the life of that city — though he was able to convert many of them by his own example of holiness, and by the many miracles that were wrought through his intercessions. Once, when the city was suffering from a long drought, the Saint gathered the city’s Christians (who numbered no more than 280), told them to fast, and celebrated an all-night vigil. The next morning, as the Bishop and his entire flock went in procession through the city it began to rain. At this, 127 pagans were converted. When the pagans’ violent attacks continued, Porphyrius appealed to the Emperor Arcadius for an edict closing of the pagan temples in Gaza. With the support of St John Chrysostom the edict was issued. When the Imperial representatives entered Gaza, accompanied by Bishop Porphyrius bearing the Cross, the statue of Aphrodite in the city’s main temple shattered into pieces. Eight temples were destroyed, and a Church was built on the site of the largest. Hundreds of pagans embraced the Faith and, after instruction, were baptized by the Saint.

After twenty-five years as bishop, during which he had seen his see transformed from a small flock of beleaguered Christians into a Christian territory, Saint Porphyrius reposed in peace in 420.

St Photini the Samaritan Woman, and those with her (66)

She was the Samaritan Woman who met Christ at Jacob’s Well (John ch. 4). She repented, and told her townsmen that she had met the Christ, for which she is sometimes called the first to proclaim the Gospel of Christ. She converted her four sisters (Phota, Photis,Parasceva, and Cyriaca), and her sons (Victor and Joses), and all of them became tireless evangelists for Christ. After the martyrdom of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, she traveled to Carthage to proclaim the Gospel there. She, with her Christian sisters and sons, all met martyrdom under the persecutions of Nero. She is also commemorated on the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman during the Paschal season.