Romans 1.1-7, 13-17 (Epistle)

1Od Pavla, sluge Isusa Hrista, pozvanoga apostola izabranoga za jevanðelje Božije, 2Koje Bog naprijed obeæa preko proroka svojijeh u svetijem pismima 3O sinu svojemu, koji je po tijelu roðen od sjemena Davidova, 4A posvjedoèen silno za sina Božijega Duhom svetinje po vaskrseniju iz mrtvijeh, Isusu Hristu Gospodu našemu, 5Preko kojega primismo blagodat i apostolstvo, da pokorimo sve neznabošce vjeri imena njegovoga; 6Meðu kojima ste i vi pozvani Isusu Hristu, 7Svima koji su u Rimu, ljubaznima Bogu, i pozvanima svetima: blagodat vam i mir od Boga oca našega i Gospoda Isusa Hrista. 13Ali vam neæu zatajiti, braæo, da sam mnogo puta htio da vam doðem, pa bih zadržan doslije, da i meðu vama imam kakav plod, kao i meðu ostalijem neznabošcima. 14Dužan sam i Grcima i divljacima, i mudrima i nerazumnima. 15Zato, od moje strane, gotov sam i vama u Rimu propovjediti jevanðelje. 16Jer se ne stidim jevanðelja Hristova; jer je sila Božija na spasenije svakome koji vjeruje, a najprije Jevrejinu i Grku. 17Jer se u njemu javlja pravda Božija iz vjere u vjeru, kao što je napisano: pravednik æe od vjere živ biti.

Matthew 4.25-5.13 (Gospel)

25I za njim iðaše naroda mnogo iz Galileje, i iz Deset Gradova, i iz Jerusalima, i Judeje, i ispreko Jordana.

1A kad on vidje narod, pope se na goru, i sjede, i pristupiše mu uèenici njegovi. 2I otvorivši usta svoja uèaše ih govoreæi: 3Blago siromašnima duhom, jer je njihovo carstvo nebesko; 4Blago onima koji plaèu, jer æe se utješiti; 5Blago krotkima, jer æe naslijediti zemlju; 6Blago gladnima i žednima pravde, jer æe se nasititi; 7Blago milostivima, jer æe biti pomilovani; 8Blago onima koji su èistoga srca, jer æe Boga vidjeti; 9Blago onima koji mir grade, jer æe se sinovi Božiji nazvati; 10Blago prognanima pravde radi, jer je njihovo carstvo nebesko. 11Blago vama ako vas uzasramote i usprogone i reku na vas svakojake rðave rijeèi lažuæi, mene radi. 12Radujte se i veselite se, jer je velika plata vaša na nebesima, jer su tako progonili proroke prije vas. 13Vi ste so zemlji; ako so obljutavi, èim æe se osoliti? Ona veæ neæe biti ni za što, osim da se prospe napolje i da je ljudi pogaze.

Hieromartyr Eusebius, bishop of Samosata (380)

In the struggle against the Arian heresy, Meletius, Patriarch of Antioch, was deposed, and the emperor Constantius demanded that Eusebius surrender the document that proved his legitimate appointment to the Patriarchal throne. Eusebius said he would not surrender it without the permission of all who had signed it and, when imperial soldiers threatened to cut off his right hand, he held out both his hands to them. When Constantius heard of this, he was struck with admiration and ceased his persecution of the bishop. As the Arian heresy continued to rage, Eusebius stood strong, and was finally exiled by order of the Emperor Valens. When the messenger bearing the edict of banishment arrived, Eusebius warned him to keep quiet lest the people, hearing why he had come, should kill him. Then Eusebius left the city on foot, under cover of darkness, in order to protect the messenger from harm. Upon the death of Valens, Eusebius returned to from exile and traveled throughout Syria (though he was now a very old man), appointing priests and bishops known for their Orthodoxy. About 380, as he was entering a village to enthrone a bishop, an Arian woman threw a tile at him from a rooftop, fracturing his skull. As he lay dying, he made all the bystanders swear not to take any revenge.

Saint Gregory the Theologian corresponded with Eusebius, and esteemed him so highly that in a letter to him he wrote, ‘That such a man should deign to be my patron also in his prayers will gain for me, I am persuaded, as much strength as I should have gained through one of the holy martyrs.’

St Alban, First Martyr of Great Britain (early 3rd c.)

He was a soldier in the Roman army and, according to the venerable Bede, was brought to faith in Christ by a fugitive priest to whom he gave shelter. The saint exchanged clothes with the priest, allowing him to escape and ensuring his own martyrdom. Some writers, including St Bede, place his martyrdom during the reign of Diocletian (286-303).

Saint Alban’s tomb was venerated as early as 429 by St Germanus of Auxerre. The town of Verulamium is either his home town or the place of his martyrdom; near it a monastery was founded, around which grew the English town of St Albans.