Ephesians 1.16-23 (Epistle)

16Ne prestajem zahvaljivati za vas, i spominjati vas u svojijem molitvama, 17Da Bog Gospoda našega Isusa Hrista, otac slave, dade vam Duha premudrosti i otkrivenja da ga poznate, 18I bistre oèi srca vašega da biste mogli vidjeti koje je nad njegova zvanja, i koje je bogatstvo slave našljedstva njegova u svetima, 19I kakva je izobilna velièina sile njegove na nama koji vjerujemo po èinjenju prevelike sile njegove, 20Koju uèini u Hristu, kad ga podiže iz mrtvijeh i posadi sebi s desne strane na nebesima, 21Nad svijem poglavarstvima, i vlastima, i silama, i gospodstvima, i nad svakijem imenom što se može nazvati, ne samo na ovome svijetu nego i na onome koji ide. 22I sve pokori pod noge njegove, i njega dade za glavu crkvi, nad svima, 23Koja je tijelo njegovo, punina onoga koji sve ispunjava u svemu.

Galatians 3.8-12 (Epistle, Saturday before Nativity)

8A pismo vidjevši unapredak da Bog vjerom neznabošce pravda, naprijed objavi Avraamu: u tebi æe se blagosloviti svi neznabošci. 9Tako koji su od vjere, blagosloviæe se s vjernijem Avraamom. 10Jer koji su god od djela zakona pod kletvom su, jer je pisano: proklet svaki koji ne ostane u svemu što je napisano u knjizi zakonskoj da èini. 11A da se zakonom niko ne opravdava pred Bogom, poznato je: jer pravednik od vjere življeæe. 12A zakon nije od vjere; nego èovjek koji to tvori življeæe u tome.

Luke 16.10-15 (Gospel)

10Koji je vjeran u malom i u mnogom je vjeran; a ko je nevjeran u malom i u mnogom je nevjeran. 11Ako dakle u nepravednom bogatstvu vjerni ne biste, ko æe vam u istinom vjerovati? 12I ako u tuðem ne biste vjerni, ko æe vam dati vaše? 13Nikakav pak sluga ne može dva gospodara služiti; jer ili æe na jednoga mrziti a drugoga ljubiti, ili æe jednome voljeti a za drugoga ne mariti. Ne možete služiti Bogu i bogatstvu. 14A ovo sve slušahu i fariseji, koji bijahu srebroljupci, i rugahu mu se. 15I reèe im: vi ste oni koji se gradite pravedni pred ljudima; ali Bog zna srca vaša; jer što je u ljudi visoko ono je mrzost pred Bogom.

Luke 13.18-29 (Gospel, Saturday before Nativity)

18A on im reèe: kakvo je carstvo Božije? i kakvo æu kazati da je? 19Ono je kao zrno gorušièno, koje uzevši èovjek baci u vrt svoj, i uzraste i posta drvo veliko, i ptice nebeske useliše se u grane njegove. 20Opet reèe: kakvo æu kazati da je carstvo Božije? 21Ono je kao kvasac koji uzevši žena metnu u tri kopanje brašna, dok ne uskise sve. 22I prolažaše po gradovima i selima uèeæi i putujuæi u Jerusalim. 23Reèe mu pak neko: Gospode! je li malo onijeh koji æe biti spaseni? A on im reèe: 24Navalite da uðete na tijesna vrata; jer vam kažem: mnogi æe tražiti da uðu i neæe moæi: 25Kad ustane domaæin i zatvori vrata, i stanete napolju stajati i kucati u vrata govoreæi: Gospode! Gospode! otvori nam; i odgovarajuæi reæi æe vam: ne poznajem vas otkuda ste. 26Tada æete stati govoriti: mi jedosmo pred tobom i pismo, i po ulicama našijem uèio si. 27A on æe reæi: kažem vam: ne poznajem vas otkuda ste; otstupite od mene svi koji nepravdu èinite. 28Ondje æe biti plaè i škrgut zuba, kad vidite Avraama i Isaka i Jakova i sve proroke u carstvu Božijemu, a sebe napolje istjerane. 29I doæi æe od istoka i zapada i sjevera i juga i sješæe za trpezu u carstvu Božijemu.

Holy Great Martyr Anastasia the Widow, the Deliverer from Potions (290)

She was born in Rome to a wealthy and prominent family. Though her father Pretexatus was a pagan, her mother Fausta instructed her in the things of God. Her father married her against her will to Publius, a prodigal and impious man lacking in Christian or pagan virtue. Anastasia was in the custom of dressing herself as a poor working woman and going out by night to visit and comfort the many Christians in prison (this was the time of Diocletian’s persecution). When Publius discovered this, he was furious that his wife was demeaning herself by consorting with the despised Christians, and had his wife locked in the house with so little food that she came close to death by starvation. She was able to get a letter to her spiritual father Chrysogonus, who was also in prison, and their correspondence helped to sustain her through her ordeal. After three months her husband died in a shipwreck and she regained her freedom. Immediately she redoubled her work for the suffering Christians and their families, devoting all her time and wealth to their comfort and care.

One day Diocletian declared that all Christians in his prisons should be slain, and his command was carried out in one night. The next day Anastasia came to visit her beloved companions and, learning that all were dead, fell sobbing by the gate, no longer caring to conceal her Christian faith from anyone. Almost immediately she was arrested and brought before the authorities, who subjected her to every form of abuse. One prefect offered to marry her if she would bow to the idols, but to have her tortured to death if she would not. When she was unmoved, he attempted to rape her, but was struck blind and died miserably. She then briefly escaped to Nicaea and found refuge with the pious St Theodota, but was seized again along with Theodota and her children. After further trials and torments Anastasia, Theodota and her children, and others who had been converted to Christ through Anastasia’s example, were executed.

Saint Anastasia’s relics were taken to Rome, where a church was built in her honor. The relics were later translated to Constantinople and placed in another church bearing her name, where they worked many miracles. Because she has healed many through her prayers from the effects of poisons and potions, she is called Pharmocolytria, “Deliverer from Potions.”