Galatians 3.15-22 (Epistle)

15Braæo, po èovjeku govorim, niko èovjeèijega potvrðena zavjeta ne odbacuje niti mu što domeæe. 16A Avraamu i sjemenu njegovu reèena biše obeæanja. A ne veli: i sjemenima, kao za mnoga, nego kao za jedno: i sjemenu tvojemu, koje je Hristos. 17Ovo pak velim: zavjeta, koji je od Boga potvrðen za Hrista, ne odbacuje zakon, koji je postao poslije èetiri stotine i trideset godina, da ukine obeæanje. 18Jer ako je našljedstvo od zakona, onda veæ nije od obeæanja, a Avraamu obeæanjem darova Bog. 19Šta æe dakle zakon? Radi grijeha dodade se dokle doðe sjeme kojemu se obeæa, i postavili su ga anðeli rukom posrednika. 20Ali posrednik nije jednoga; a Bog je jedan. 21Eda li je dakle zakon protivan obeæanjima Božijim? Bože saèuvaj! Jer da je dan zakon koji može oživljeti, zaista bi od zakona bila pravda. 22Ali pismo zatvori sve pod grijeh, da se obeæanje dade kroz vjeru Isusa Hrista onima koji vjeruju.

Luke 5.33-39 (Gospel)

33A oni mu rekoše: zašto uèenici Jovanovi poste èesto i mole se Bogu, tako i farisejski; a tvoji jedu i piju? 34A on im reèe: možete li svatove natjerati da poste dok je ženik s njima? 35Nego æe doæi dani kad æe se oteti od njih ženik, i onda æe postiti u one dane. 36Kaza im pak i prièu: niko ne meæe zakrpe od nove haljine na staru haljinu, inaèe æe i novu razdrijeti, i staroj ne lièi što je od novoga. 37I niko ne ljeva vina novoga u mjehove stare; inaèe prodre novo vino mjehove i ono se prolije, i mjehovi propadnu; 38Nego vino novo u mjehove nove treba ljevati, i oboje æe se saèuvati. 39I niko pivši staro neæe odmah novoga; jer veli: staro je bolje.

St Cyriacus the Solitary (555/557)

He was born in Corinth of pious Christian parents. At the age of eighteen he went to Palestine, where, after studying under several holy fathers, he entered monastic life and became the disciple of St Gerasim of the Jordan. After St Gerasim’s death he lived in strict solitude, asceticism and silence for many years, finally entering the monastery of St Chariton, where he reposed in peace at the age of 109. Despite his very severe asceticism, he was large and strong, remaining so until the end of his life. According to the rule of St Chariton, he and his fellow-monks ate only once a day, after sunset. In the desert, he lived for years on nothing but the raw plants that he gathered there. He said of himself that, while he was a monk, the sun never saw him eat or be angry with any man.

St Mary of Palestine (6th c.)

“She was at first a reader of the Psalter in the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem, but, being beautiful, she was a source of scandal to the sinful-minded. In order not to be a cause of sin in others, Mary withdrew to the wilderness of Souka with a basket of beans and a flask of water. She spent eighteen years in the desert and, by God’s power, never lacked either beans nor water. Disciples of St Cyriacus found her during her lifetime, and later buried her.” (Prologue)

Holy Martyrs Dada and those with them (4th c.)

Dada was a high Persian official serving in the court of King Shapur II, and secretly a Christian. When he was appointed governor of a province some way from the court, Dada began to worship and proclaim Christ openly. This came to the attention of the King, who sent one of his sons, Gubarlahas, to try and execute him. Dada was tried and condemned to be thrown into a fiery furnace. But when Dada made the sign of the Cross, the fire went out, amazing the Prince and eventually leading him to convert to Christ.

The outraged King had his son thrown in prison and put to torture. Gubarlahas endured days of hideous torture without complaint and, though he had been subjected to horrible mutilations, emerged from his cell unscathed. This wonder led others, including two more of the King’s own children or kin, to embrace Christ. Kazoy, the King’s daughter, was allowed to enter into rest as soon as her tortures began. Gubarlahas was miraculously baptised in the midst of further tortures: A voice from on high pronounced the words of baptism, and a shower of water and oil fell on the Martyr. Not long afterward, he perished, along with Dada and Kasdios, one of Gubarlahas’ kinsmen who had been convinced of the Truth by the miracles he had seen.

Venerable Cyprian of Ustiug (1276)

“Saint Cyprian founded the Monastery of the Entry into the Temple of the Mother of God, near Ustiug in the district of Vologda, in 1212, and he made over all his property to it. He never left the monastery after he became Abbot but gave himself to ascetic labours, as if each day were his last on earth. He watched over the spiritual progress of his monks with fatherly love and willingly sacrificed his time and energy for their good. Saint Cyprian fell asleep in the Lord in 1276. His holy relics lie in his monastery.” (Synaxarion)