2 Corinthians 4.13-18 (Epistle)

13Imajuæi pak onaj isti duh vjere kao što je napisano: vjerovah, zato govorih; mi vjerujemo, zato i govorimo. 14Znajuæi da æe onaj koji podiže Isusa, i nas podignuti s Isusom, i postaviti s vama. 15Jer je sve vas radi, da blagodat umnožena izobiluje hvalama na slavu Božiju. 16Zato nam se ne dosaðuje; no ako se naš spoljašnji èovjek i raspada, ali se unutrašnji obnavlja svaki dan. 17Jer naša laka sadašnja briga donosi nam vjeènu i od svega pretežniju slavu, 18Nama koji ne gledamo na ovo što se vidi, nego na ono što se ne vidi; jer je ovo što se vidi, za vrijeme, a ono što se ne vidi, vjeèno.

Matthew 24.27-33, 42-51 (Gospel)

27Jer kako što munja izlazi od istoka i pokazuje se do zapada, taki æe biti dolazak sina èovjeèijega. 28Jer gdje je strvina onamo æe se i orlovi kupiti. 29I odmah æe po nevolji dana tijeh sunce pomrèati, i mjesec svoju svjetlost izgubiti, i zvijezde s neba spasti, i sile nebeske pokrenuti se. 30I tada æe se pokazati znak sina èovjeèijega na nebu; i tada æe proplakati sva plemena na zemlji; i ugledaæe sina èovjeèijega gdje ide na oblacima nebeskima sa silom i slavom velikom. 31I poslaæe anðele svoje s velikijem glasom trubnijem; i sabraæe izbrane njegove od èetiri vjetra, od kraja do kraja nebesa. 32Od smokve nauèite se prièi: kad se veæ njezine grane pomlade i ulistaju, znate da je blizu ljeto. 33Tako i vi kad vidite sve ovo, znajte da je blizu kod vrata. 42Stražite dakle, jer ne znate u koji æe èas doæi Gospod vaš. 43Ali ovo znajte: kad bi znao domaæin u koje æe vrijeme doæi lupež, èuvao bi i ne bi dao potkopati kuæe svoje. 44Zato i vi budite gotovi; jer u koji èas ne mislite doæi æe sin èovjeèij. 45Ko je dakle taj vjerni i mudri sluga kojega je postavio gospodar njegov nad svojima domašnjima da im daje hranu na obrok? 46Blago tome sluzi kojega došavši gospodar njegov naðe da izvršuje tako. 47Zaista vam kažem: postaviæe ga nad svijem imanjem svojim. 48Ako li taj rðavi sluga reèe u srcu svome: neæe moj gospodar još zadugo doæi; 49I poène biti svoje drugare, i jesti i piti s pijanicama; 50Doæi æe gospodar toga sluge u dan kad se ne nada, i u èas kad ne misli. 51I rasjeæi æe ga napola, i daæe mu platu kao i licemjerima; ondje æe biti plaè i škrgut zuba.

Hieromartyr Anthimos, bishop of Nicomedia, and those with him (303-304)

“After the death of the 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia (see Dec. 28), their Bishop Anthimos fled to a certain village to care for his remaining flock. The Emperor Maximian sent men in search of him. When they found him, he promised to show Anthimos to them, but first took them in as guests, fed them, and only then made himself known to them. Amazed at his kindness, the soldiers promised him to tell Maximian that they had not found him. But Anthimos went willingly with them, and converting them by his admonitions, baptized them on the way. He boldly confessed his Faith before Maximian, and after frightful tortures was beheaded in the year 303 or 304.” (Great Horologion)

Our Holy Father Theoctistus, Fellow Ascetic of St Euthymius (451), is also commemorated today. A faithful disciple of St Euthymius, he was abbot of St Euthymius’ monastery in Palestine until his repose in peace at the age of ninety.

Holy Martyr Basilissa (309)

She lived near Nicomedia during the great persecution by the Emperor Diocletian. Though she was only nine years old, she was arrested and brought before Alexander, the Governor of Bithynia. When she fearlessly proclaimed her faith in Christ, the Governor had her stripped and beaten, but she only gave thanks to God. Enraged at the steadfastness of a mere child, the Governor ordered her chained and plunged head-first into boiling pitch, then cast into a blazing furnace, then thrown to the lions. Through all these torments she was miraculously preserved. Astonished at the wonders that he beheld, Alexander fell at Basilissa’s feet and confessed that he too believed that Christ is the Savior. He was baptized by the Bishop of Nicomedia and died not long afterward. Basilissa went into the wilderness outside the city to give thanks to God for her endurance under torture and to ask Him to receive her soul in peace. While praying in this way, she entered into her rest.

Our Holy Father Joannicius, Archbishop and first Patriarch of Serbia (1354)

“Born in Prizrem, he served as first secretary to King Dušan. He became Archbishop in 1339, and in 1346 was raised to the rank of Patriarch. He was a zealous pastor, and brought order to the Serbian Church, being ‘a great upholder of the Church’s laws’. He entered into rest on September 3rd, 1349, and his relics are preserved at Pec´.” (Prologue)