1 Thessalonians 1.6-10 (Epistle)

6I vi se ugledaste na nas i na Gospoda primivši rijeè u velikoj nevolji s radošæu Duha svetoga, 7Tako da postadoste ugled svima koji vjeruju u Maæedoniji i u Ahaji. 8Jer se od vas promèe rijeè Gospodnja ne samo u Maæedoniji i Ahaji, nego i u svako mjesto iziðe vjera vaša u Boga tako da nam nije trijebe što govoriti. 9Jer oni obznanjuju za vas kakav ulazak imasmo k vama, i kako se obratiste Bogu od idola, da služite Bogu živu i istinu, 10I da èekate sina njegova s nebesa kojega vaskrse iz mrtvijeh, Isusa, koji nas izbavlja od gnjeva koji æe doæi.

Luke 11.34-41 (Gospel)

34Svijeæa je tijelu oko. Ako dakle oko tvoje bude zdravo, sve æe tijelo tvoje biti svijetlo; ako li oko tvoje bude kvarno, i tijelo je tvoje tamno. 35Gledaj dakle da vidjelo koje je u tebi ne bude tama. 36Jer ako je sve tijelo tvoje svijetlo da nema nikakvoga uda tamna, biæe svijetlo kao kad te svijeæa obasjava svjetlošæu. 37A kad govoraše, moljaše ga nekakav farisej da objeduje u njega. A on ušavši sjede za trpezu. 38A farisej se zaèudi kad vidje da se najprije ne umi prije objeda. 39A Gospod reèe mu: sad vi fariseji spolja èistite èašu i zdjelu, a iznutra vam je puno grabeža i zlobe. 40Bezumni! nije li onaj naèinio i iznutra koji je spolja naèinio? 41Ali dajite milostinju od onoga što je unutra; i gle, sve æe vam biti èisto.

Holy Virgin Martyr Anastasia of Rome (256)

She lived in Rome during the reigns of the Emperors Decius and Valerian. At an early age she left all to embrace a life of unceasing prayer, entering a small monastery in Rome, directed by a nun named Sophia. For her Christian faith, she was seized and brought before the governor Probus and, when she boldly confessed Christ and refused to honor the idols, was subjected to a series of vicious tortures, under which she died. An angel led Sophia to retrieve her holy relics, which are now venerated at the monastery of Grigoriou on Mt Athos.

We are sometimes told that monasticism developed in the Church after Christianity became accepted and grew more worldly. The story of St Anastasia is one of many evidences in the lives of the Saints that what we now call monasticism was present from the earliest days of the Church.

Our Holy Father Abramius (366) and his niece Mary (371) of Mesopotamia

Abramius was a Christian of noble birth who, early in life, left all (including a young bride) to live as a solitary monk. This he did for fifty years. When Abramius’ brother died, leaving his seven-year-old daughter Mary orphaned and alone, The Saint took her under his care, giving her a monastic cell near his own. Though Mary devoted herself joyfully to the monastic life, when she was about twenty she fell into sin with a corrupt monk who visited the hermitage. Far worse, she then fell into despair, thinking that she had cast away her salvation, and fled the hermitage to become a harlot in a nearby town. Abramius, unaware of what had happened or where she had gone, prayed constantly for her safety and to be shown where she had fled.

One day a traveler told Abramius what had become of his niece. Immediately he rose up, dressed himself as a soldier and went to the brothel where Mary worked, “for the salvation of a soul meant more to him than hermitage, Habit, ascesis or prayer itself” (Synaxarion). Still disguised, he ordered a meal, his first wine and meat for fifty years, then went with Mary to her room. Only then did he reveal himself, and with tears, not accusing her at all, pleaded with her to leave that place and return with him. “Let us go, my child; let us return to our hermitage. Let your fault be mine. I will answer for it before Christ on the day of judgment.” She returned with him and, with repentance, prayed so ardently that she was soon granted not only assurance of forgiveness but the power to work miracles. St Abramius reposed in peace in great old age; Mary followed him into eternal joy five years later.