Isaiah 5.7-16 (6th Hour)

7Da, vinograd je Gospoda nad vojskama dom Izrailjev, i ljudi su Judejci mili sad njegov; on èeka sud, a gle nasilja, èeka pravdu, a gle vike. 8Teško onima koji sastavljaju kuæu s kuæom, i njivu na njivu nastavljaju, da veæ ne bude mjesta i vi sami ostanete u zemlji. 9Od Gospoda nad vojskama èuh: mnoge kuæe opustjeæe, u velikim i lijepijem neæe biti nikoga. 10Jer æe deset rala vinograda dati jedan vat, i gomer sjemena daæe efu. 11Teško onima koji rane, te idu na silovito piæe i ostaju do mraka dok ih vino raspali. 12I na gozbama su im gusle i psaltiri i bubnji i svirale i vino; a ne gledaju na djela Gospodnja i ne vide rada ruku njegovijeh. 13Zato se narod moj odvede u ropstvo što ne znaju, i koje poštuje gladuju, i ljudstvo njegovo gine od žeði. 14Zato se raširio grob i razvalio ždrijelo svoje preveæ, i siæi æe u nj slava njegova i mnoštvo njegovo i vreva njegova i koji se vesele u njemu. 15I pognuæe se prost èovjek, i visoki æe se poniziti, i ponosite oèi oboriæe se; 16Gospod nad vojskama uzvisiæe se sudom, i Bog sveti posvetiæe se pravdom.

Genesis 4.8-15 (Vespers)

8Poslije govoraše Kajin s Aveljem bratom svojim. Ali kad bijahu u polju, skoèi Kajin na Avelja brata svojega, i ubi ga. 9Tada reèe Gospod Kajinu: gdje ti je brat Avelj? A on odgovori: ne znam; zar sam ja èuvar brata svojega? 10A Bog reèe: šta uèini! glas krvi brata tvojega vièe sa zemlje k meni. 11I sada, da si proklet na zemlji, koja je otvorila usta svoja da primi krv brata tvojega iz ruke tvoje. 12Kad zemlju uzradiš, neæe ti više davati blaga svojega. Biæeš potukaè i bjegunac na zemlji. 13A Kajin reèe Gospodu: krivica je moja velika da mi se ne može oprostiti. 14Evo me tjeraš danas iz ove zemlje da se krijem ispred tebe, i da se skitam i potucam po zemlji, pa æe me ubiti ko me udesi. 15A Gospod mu reèe: zato ko ubije Kajina, sedam æe se puta to pokajati. I naèini Gospod znak na Kajinu da ga ne ubije ko ga udesi.

Proverbs 5.1-15 (Vespers)

1Sine moj, slušaj mudrost moju, k razumu mojemu prigni uho svoje, 2Da se držiš razboritosti, i usne tvoje da hrane znanje. 3Jer s usana tuðe žene kaplje med, i grlo joj je mekše od ulja; 4Ali joj je pošljedak gorak kao pelen, oštar kao maè s obje strane oštar. 5Noge joj slaze k smrti, do pakla dopiru koraci njezini. 6Da ne bi mjerio puta životnoga, savijaju se staze njezine da ne znaš. 7Zato, djeco, poslušajte mene, i ne otstupajte od rijeèi usta mojih. 8Neka je daleko od nje put tvoj, i ne približuj se k vratima kuæe njezine, 9Da ne bi dao drugima slave svoje i godina svojih nemilostivome, 10Da se ne bi tuðinci nasitili tvojega blaga i trud tvoj da ne bi bio u tuðoj kuæi, 11I da ne ridaš na pošljedak, kad se stroši meso tvoje i tijelo tvoje, 12I reèeš: kako mrzih na nastavu, i kako srce moje prezira karanje! 13I ne poslušah glasa uèitelja svojih, i ne prignuh uha svojega k onima koji me uèahu! 14Umalo ne zapadoh u svako zlo usred zbora i skupštine. 15Pij vodu iz svojega studenca i što teèe iz tvojega izvora.

Monk-martyr Nikon and 199 disciples, in Sicily (251)

He was born in Neapolis (Naples) to a pagan father and a Christian mother, and became an officer in the Roman army. Though he was not baptised, his mother had secretly instructed him in the Christian faith. Once, in a battle, his company was completely surrounded by the enemy, and Nikon recalled his mother’s counseling that, whenever he was in trouble, he should make the sign of the Cross and call upon Christ. This he did, and was immediately filled with strength and resolution, so that the enemy’s army was routed. Nikon went home, openly crying out ‘Great is the God of the Christians!’ to the great joy of his mother.

He traveled secretly to Cyzicus in Asia, where the bishop Theodosius baptised him. He then entered a monastery to spend his days in prayer and study. But some years later Theodosius, who was near death, had a vision in which he was told to consecrate Nikon as his successor. He summoned Nikon from the monastery and, to the monk’s amazement, immediately ordained him a deacon, then a priest, then a bishop.

Later, bishop Nikon returned to Italy to preach the Gospel of Christ. In Naples, he found his mother still alive, and remained with her until her death. He then set out with nine disciples, former fellow-soldiers, to proclaim the Faith. Through the Saint’s grace-filled preaching and example, many more disciples were soon added to this number. At that time a great persecution of Christians was underway, and Quintinianus, ruler of that region, seized Nikon and his companions and handed them over to the torturers. One hundred ninety of Nikon’s companions perished under torture. Nikon himself was beaten, flayed, and even thrown from a high cliff, but was miraculously preserved. Finally he was slain by the sword and his body thrown in a field to be eaten by the beasts. A shepherd boy, possessed by a spirit of madness, found the body, fell on it, and was instantly healed. He told his story to some Christians, who found the body and gave it honorable burial. Saint Nikon contested during the reign of the Emperor Decius.