John 20.1-10 (7th Matins Gospel)

1A u prvi dan nedjelje doðe Marija Magdalina na grob rano, još dok se ne bješe rasvanulo, i vidje da je kamen odvaljen od groba. 2Onda otrèa, i doðe k Simonu Petru i k drugom uèeniku koga ljubljaše Isus, i reèe im: uzeše Gospoda iz groba; i ne znamo gdje ga metnuše. 3A Petar iziðe i drugi uèenik, i poðoše ka grobu. 4Trèahu pak oba zajedno, i drugi uèenik trèaše brže od Petra, i doðe prije ka grobu. 5I nadvirivši se vidje haljine gdje leže; ali ne uðe. 6Doðe pak Simon Petar za njim, i uðe u grob, i vidje haljine same gdje leže, 7I ubrus koji bješe na glavi njegovoj ne s haljinama da leži nego osobito savit na jednom mjestu. 8Tada dakle uðe i drugi uèenik koji najprije doðe ka grobu, i vidje i vjerova. 9Jer još ne znadijahu pisma da njemu valja ustati iz mrtvijeh. 10Onda otidoše opet uèenici doma.

Galatians 1.11-19 (Epistle, Sunday after Nativity)

11Ali vam dajem na znanje, braæo, da ono jevanðelje koje sam ja javio, nije po èovjeku. 12Jer ga ja ne primih od èovjeka, niti nauèih, nego otkrivenjem Isusa Hrista. 13Jer ste èuli moje življenje nekad u Jevrejstvu, da sam odviše gonio crkvu Božiju i raskopavao je. 14I napredovah u Jevrejstvu veæma od mnogijeh vrsnika svojijeh u rodu svome, i odviše revnovah za otaèke svoje obièaje. 15A kad bi ugodno Bogu, koji me izabra od utrobe matere moje i prizva blagodaæu svojom, 16Da javi sina svojega u meni, da ga jevanðeljem objavim meðu neznabošcima; odmah ne pitah tijela i krvi, 17Niti iziðoh u Jerusalim k starijim apostolima od sebe, nego otidoh u Arapsku, i opet se vratih u Damask. 18A poslije toga na tri godine iziðoh u Jerusalim da vidim Petra, i ostadoh u njega petnaest dana. 19Ali drugoga od apostola ne vidjeh, osim Jakova brata Gospodnjega.

Matthew 2.13-23 (Gospel, Sunday after Nativity and Theotokos)

13A pošto oni otidu, a to anðeo Gospodnji javi se Josifu u snu i kaza mu: ustani, uzmi dijete i mater njegovu pa bježi u Misir, i budi onamo dok ti ne kažem; jer æe Irod tražiti dijete da ga pogubi. 14I on ustavši uze dijete i mater njegovu noæu i otide u Misir. 15I bi tamo do smrti Irodove: da se izvrši što je Gospod rekao preko proroka koji govori: iz Misira dozvah sina svojega. 16Tada Irod kad vidje da su ga mudarci prevarili, razgnjevi se vrlo i posla te pobiše svu djecu po Vitlejemu i po svoj okolini njegovoj od dvije godine i niže, po vremenu koje je dobro doznao od mudaraca. 17Tada se zbi što je kazao prorok Jeremija govoreæi: 18Glas u Rami èu se, plaè, i ridanje, i jaukanje mnogo: Rahila plaèe za svojom djecom, i neæe da se utješi, jer ih nema. 19A po smrti Irodovoj, gle, anðeo Gospodnji u snu javi se Josifu u Misiru. 20I reèe: ustani, i uzmi dijete i mater njegovu i idi u zemlju Izrailjevu; jer su izumrli koji su tražili dušu djetinju. 21I on ustavši, uze dijete i mater njegovu, i doðe u zemlju Izrailjevu. 22Ali èuvši da Arhelaj caruje u Judeji mjesto Iroda oca svojega, poboja se onamo iæi; nego primivši u snu zapovijest, otide u krajeve Galilejske. 23I došavši onamo, namjesti se u gradu koji se zove Nazaret, da se zbude kao što su kazali proroci da æe se Nazareæanin nazvati.

Holy Virgin and Martyr Anysia (298)

She was born to a pious, noble and very wealthy family in Thessalonica. When both her parents died while she was an adolescent, Anysia consecrated herself to Christ, the heavenly Bridegroom. She cast off all her jewels and fine clothing, dressing herself as a commoner. She freed all her many slaves, giving each of them a generous sum of money to establish themselves. She gave away all of her inheritance, which included large estates. Thenceforth she spent her days visiting the sick, helping widows and orphans, and, especially, aiding Christians suffering under persecution. She would visit those in prison, bringing them food and water and tending their wounds. All the time not devoted to aiding the poor or oppressed she spent in prayer in a small cell. One of her prayers was that she, like those that she helped, would be granted the crown of martyrdom.

One day, while she was walking to church, an imperial soldier accosted her and roughly questioned her. When she plainly declared herself a Christian, the soldier seized her and dragged her to a temple of the idols, where he commanded her to make sacrifice. In response, she only spat in his face. The enraged soldier drew his sword and thrust it into her side, slaying her. Some pious Christians took her body and buried it outside the city. When the persecutions had ended, a church was built in her honor at the place of her burial.

Our Holy Father Macarius, Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia (1563)

He was born in Moscow in 1492. When his father died, his mother became a nun and he a monk, receiving the monastic name Macarius. He became an iconographer of rare talent. In 1523 he was ordained to the priesthood and made Abbot of the Monastery of Luchski; three years later he was consecrated Archbishop of Novgorod and Pskov, a see which had been vacant for many years. As Archbishop, he sent missionaries to the native peoples of the far north of Russia and, within his own diocese strove against the paganism still common among the people. He regularized life in the monasteries of his diocese, which had fallen into self-indulgence.

In 1542 he was elected Metropolitan of Moscow and head of the Russian Church. Five years later he crowned the first Tsar of Russia, Ivan Vassilievich. In 1551 he summoned the Council of the Hundred Chapters, which condemned various heresies prevalent at that time, laid down principles of Christian conduct and education, and established rules for iconography and Church art. Throughout his time as a hierarch, he continued to paint icons, and in 1553 he brought about the production of the first books to be printed in Russian. When the Khanate of Kazan fell, he immediately sent missionaries to convert the Tatars.

When the Tsar, who revered Saint Macarius, asked him for a spiritual book, he was surprised and displeased to be given a copy of the funeral service; but the Saint told him that anyone who read this book carefully and applied its words would never sin.

Saint Macarius reposed in peace in Moscow in 1563, and his popular veneration began immediately. In 1988 he was officially glorified by the Church of Russia.