2 Corinthians 1.12-20 (Epistle)

12Jer je naša slava ovo: svjedoèanstvo savjesti naše da smo u prostoti i èistoti Božijoj a ne u mudrosti tjelesnoj nego po blagodati Božijoj življeli na svijetu, a osobito meðu vama. 13Jer vam drugo ne pišemo nego što èitate i razumijevate. A nadam se da æete i do kraja razumjeti. 14Kao što neki i razumjeste da smo vam slava kao i vi nama za dan Gospoda našega Isusa Hrista. 15I u ovom pouzdanju šæadijah da vam doðem prije, da drugu blagodat imate; 16I kroz vas da doðem u Maæedoniju, i opet iz Maæedonije da doðem k vama, i vi da me pratite u Judeju. 17Ali kad sam ovo htio, eda li sam dakle što nepostojano èinio? Ili što se nakanjujem, da se po tijelu nakanjujem, da bude u mene da da, a ne ne? 18Ali je Bog vjeran, te rijeè naša k vama ne bi da i ne. 19Jer sin Božij Isus Hristos, kojega mi vama propovijedasmo ja i Silvan i Timotije, ne bi da i ne, nego u njemu bi da. 20Jer koliko je obeæanja Božijeh, u njemu su da, i u njemu amin, Bogu na slavu kroz nas.

Matthew 22.23-33 (Gospel)

23Taj dan pristupiše k njemu sadukeji koji govore da nema vaskrsenija, i upitaše ga 24Govoreæi: uèitelju! Mojsije reèe: ako ko umre bez djece, da uzme brat njegov ženu njegovu i da podigne sjeme bratu svojemu. 25U nas bješe sedam braæe; i prvi oženivši se umrije, i ne imavši poroda ostavi ženu svoju bratu svojemu. 26A tako i drugi, i treæi, tja do sedmoga. 27A poslije sviju umrije i žena. 28O vaskrseniju dakle koga æe od sedmorice biti žena? jer je za svima bila. 29A Isus odgovarajuæi reèe im: varate se, ne znajuæi pisma ni sile Božije. 30Jer o vaskrseniju niti æe se ženiti ni udavati; nego su kao anðeli Božiji na nebu. 31A za vaskrsenije mrtvijeh nijeste li èitali što vam je rekao Bog govoreæi: 32Ja sam Bog Avraamov, i Bog Isakov, i Bog Jakovljev? Nije Bog Bog mrtvijeh, nego živijeh. 33I èuvši narod divljaše se nauci njegovoj.

Holy Martyr and Archdeacon Euplus of Catania (304)

He was a deacon from Catania in Sicily during the reign of Diocletian. During a persecution of Christians there, Euplus presented himself to the governor and proclaimed himself a Christian. While he was being tortured on the rack, the governor ordered him to worship Mars, Apollos, and Aeculapius, but he answered that he worshipped the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. He was beheaded in 304. His wonderworking relics are preserved in the village of Vico della Batonia near Naples.

The Holy Martyr Susanna the Virgin, and those with her (295-296)

She was the daughter of Gavinius, a Christian priest in Rome, and the niece of Pope Gaius. The Emperor Diocletian’s adopted son Maximian wished to marry Susanna, but she had no desire to marry any one, least of all a pagan. The patricians Claudia and Maxima were sent to Susanna by the Emperor to present Maximian’s suit; but instead she turned both of them, and all their households, to the Faith. The enraged Emperor had Claudia, Maxima and their families executed, then had Susanna herself beheaded. The Emperor’s wife, Serena, was a secret Christian, and took Susanna’s body secretly and buried it. Soon after this Susanna’s father Gavinius and her uncle Pope Gaius also met martyrdom.

Saint Niphon, Patriarch of Constantinople (1508)

He was born in Greece and became a monk at a young age, spending many years in asceticism on the Holy Mountain. Against his desire, he was made Bishop of Thessalonika, then Patriarch of Constantinople. He was banished by the Sultan (the Prologue does not say why), served as archbishop in Wallachia for a time, then returned to Dionysiou monastery on the Holy Mountain, where he reposed at the age of ninety. He composed the ‘Prayer at Departing’ used in the funeral service.

Repose of Fr Georges Florovsky (1979) (July 29 OC)