Isaiah 28.14-22 (6th Hour)

14Zato slušajte rijeè Gospodnju, ljudi potsmjevaèi, koji vladate narodom što je u Jerusalimu. 15Što rekoste: uhvatismo vjeru sa smræu, i ugovorismo s grobom; kad zaðe biè kao povodanj, neæe nas dohvatiti, jer od laži naèinismo sebi utoèište, i za prijevaru zaklonismo se; 16Zato ovako veli Gospod Gospod: evo, ja meæem u Sionu kamen, kamen izabran, kamen od ugla, skupocjen, temelj tvrd; ko vjeruje neæe se plašiti. 17I izvršiæu sud po pravilu i pravdu po mjerilima; i grad æe potrti lažno utoèište i voda æe potopiti zaklon. 18I vjera vaša sa smræu uništiæe se, i ugovor vaš s grobom neæe ostati, a kad zaðe biè kao povodanj, potlaèiæe vas. 19Èim zaðe, odnijeæe vas, jer æe zalaziti svako jutro, danju i noæu, i kad se èuje vika, biæe sam strah. 20Jer æe odar biti kratak da se èovjek ne može pružiti, i pokrivaè uzak da se ne može umotati. 21Jer æe Gospod ustati kao na gori Ferasimu, razgnjeviæe se kao u dolu Gavaonskom, da uèini djelo svoje, neobièno djelo svoje, da svrši posao svoj, neobièan posao svoj. 22Nemojte se dakle više potsmijevati da ne postanu jaèi okovi vaši, jer èuh od Gospoda Gospoda nad vojskama pogibao odreðenu svoj zemlji.

Genesis 10.32-11.9 (Vespers)

32To su porodice sinova Nojevijeh po plemenima svojim, u narodima svojim; i od njih se razdijeliše narodi po zemlji poslije potopa.

1A bijaše na cijeloj zemlji jedan jezik i jednake rijeèi. 2A kad otidoše od istoka, naðoše ravnicu u zemlji Senarskoj, i naseliše se ondje. 3Pa rekoše meðu sobom: hajde da pravimo ploèe i da ih u vatri peèemo. I bjehu im opeke mjesto kamena i smola zemljana mjesto kreèa. 4Poslije rekoše: hajde da sazidamo grad i kulu, kojoj æe vrh biti do neba, da steèemo sebi ime, da se ne bismo rasijali po zemlji. 5A Gospod siðe da vidi grad i kulu, što zidahu sinovi èovjeèiji. 6I reèe Gospod: gle, narod jedan, i jedan jezik u svijeh, i to poèeše raditi, i neæe im smetati ništa da ne urade što su naumili. 7Hajde da siðemo, i da im pometemo jezik, da ne razumiju jedan drugoga što govore. 8Tako ih Gospod rasu odande po svoj zemlji, te ne sazidaše grada. 9Zato se prozva Vavilon, jer ondje pomete Gospod jezik cijele zemlje, i odande ih rasu Gospod po svoj zemlji.

Proverbs 13.19-14.6 (Vespers)

19Ispunjena je želja slast duši, a bezumnima je mrsko otstupiti oda zla. 20Ko hodi s mudrima postaje mudar, a ko se druži s bezumnicima postaje gori. 21Grješnike goni zlo, a pravednicima se vraæa dobro. 22Dobar èovjek ostavlja našljedstvo sinovima sinova svojih, a grješnikovo imanje èuva se pravedniku. 23Izobila hrane ima na njivi siromaškoj, a ima ko propada sa zle uprave. 24Ko žali prut, mrzi na sina svojega; a ko ga ljubi, kara ga za vremena. 25Pravednik jede, i sita mu je duša; a trbuh bezbožnicima nema dosta.

1Mudra žena zida kuæu svoju, a luda svojim rukama raskopava. 2Ko hodi pravo, boji se Gospoda; a ko je opak na svojim putovima, prezire ga. 3U ustima je bezbožnikovijem prut oholosti, a mudre èuvaju usta njihova. 4Gdje nema volova, èiste su jasle; a obilata je ljetina od sile volovske. 5Istinit svjedok ne laže, a lažan svjedok govori laž. 6Potsmjevaè traži mudrost, i ne nahodi je; a razumnomu je znanje lako naæi.

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.