2 Corinthians 2.14-3.3 (Epistle)

14Ali hvala Bogu koji svagda nama daje pobjedu u Hristu Isusu, i kroz nas javlja miris poznanja svojega na svakom mjestu. 15Jer smo mi Hristov miris Bogu i meðu onima koji se spasavaju i koji ginu: 16Jednima dakle miris smrtni za smrt, a drugima miris životni za život. I za ovo ko je vrijedan? 17Jer mi nijesmo kao mnogi koji neèisto propovijedaju rijeè Božiju, nego iz èistote, i kao iz Boga, pred Bogom, u Hristu govorimo.

1Poèinjemo li se opet sami hvaliti vama? Ili trebamo kao neki preporuènijeh poslanica na vas ili od vas? 2Jer ste vi naša poslanica napisana u srcima našima, koju poznaju i èitaju svi ljudi; 3Koji ste se pokazali da ste poslanica Hristova, koju smo mi služeæi napisali ne mastilom nego Duhom Boga živoga, ne na kamenijem daskama nego na mesanijem daskama srca.

Matthew 23.23-28 (Gospel)

23Teško vama književnici i fariseji, licemjeri, što dajete desetak od metvice i od kopra i od kima, a ostaviste što je najpretežnije u zakonu: pravdu i milost i vjeru; a ovo je trebalo èiniti i ono ne ostavljati. 24Voði slijepi koji ocjeðujete komarca a kamilu proždirete. 25Teško vama književnici i fariseji, licemjeri, što èistite spolja èašu i zdjelu a iznutra su pune grabeža i nepravde. 26Fariseju slijepi! Oèisti najprije iznutra èašu i zdjelu da budu i spolja èiste. 27Teško vama književnici i fariseji, licemjeri, što ste kao okreèeni grobovi, koji se spolja vide lijepi a unutra su puni kostiju mrtvaèkijeh i svake neèistote. 28Tako i vi spolja se pokazujete ljudima pravedni, a iznutra ste puni licemjerja i bezakonja.

The Placing of the Sash of the Most Holy Theotokos (395-408? 886- 912?)

At the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, her sash came into the possession of the Apostle Thomas and after various transfers came to Cappadocia. It was later taken from there to Constantinople, where it was kept in a sealed casket in the Church of the Theotokos at Blachernae, at the time of the Emperor Arcadius (395-408). The casket was not opened until the reign of the Emperor Leo the Wise (886-912), when the Empress Zoe, who was ill, had a vision in which she was told to have the sash placed upon her. The Emperor obtained the blessing of the Patriarch, the sash was placed upon the Empress, and she was immediately healed. Some accounts say that today’s feast celebrates the bringing of the sash to Constantinople; others that it commemorates the miraculous healing of the Empress.

Hieromartyr Cyprian, bishop of Carthage (258)

He was born around 190 to pagan parents in North Africa. Before baptism he was distinguished in Carthage as a teacher of philosophy and rhetoric. He came to faith in Christ and was baptized at a young age; as soon as he became a Christian he abandoned his prestigious teacher’s position, sold his many possessions and gave all his wealth to the poor. He was ordained presbyter in 247, Bishop of Carthage in 248. He was known for his gentleness and paternal care for his flock, combined with firm opposition to heretics. His extensive writings still guide the Church today.

For his confession of Christ, he was beheaded under the Emperor Valerian on September 14; since that is the date of the Exaltation of the Cross, his feast is kept today. At the time of his execution he left twenty-five gold pieces (a huge sum) for the executioner who beheaded him.

St Gennadius, Patriarch of Constantinople (471)

He was known for his gentleness and his ascetical way of life. He would not ordain any man who did not know the Psalter by heart. He presided at a local council in which simony in the Church was anathematized. In his own lifetime he worked miracles, and he was told the time of his death in a vision. The famous monastery of Studion was built in his time, with his blessing. He reposed in peace.

Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne (651)

Around AD 635, Saint Oswald (5 August), King of Northumbria, appealed to the monks of the Monastery of Iona to send missionaries to his mostly-pagan kingdom. (An earlier mission had ended with the death of St Edwin in 633.) The fathers of the monastery chose St Aidan and consecrated him bishop. He founded a monastery (and his episcopal seat) on the island of Lindisfarne, and undertook missionary journeys, always on foot, throughout the kingdom, with King Oswald often accompanying him and serving as his interpreter. He lived in great poverty, using all the gifts he received as alms for the poor or to buy back captives and slaves. He was the spiritual father of St Hilda (17 Nov.), and founded the first women’s monasteries in Northumbria. He reposed in peace in 651, and was buried at Lindisfarne.

Note: Northumbria was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom in what is now northeastern England and southern Scotland.