Orthodox Calendar

23. децембар 2025.
Tuesday of the 29th week after Pentecost

Nativity Fast — Wine and Oil are Allowed

Commemorations

  • Holy Martyrs Menas, Hermogenes and Eugraphus (235)

Scripture Readings

Hebrews 4.1-13 (Epistle)

1Da se bojimo dakle da kako dok je još ostavljeno obeæanje da se ulazi u pokoj njegov, ne odocni koji od vas. 2Jer je nama objavljeno kao i onima; ali onima ne pomaže èuvena rijeè, jer ne vjerovaše oni koji èuše. 3Jer mi koji vjerovasmo ulazimo u pokoj, kao što reèe: zato se zakleh u gnjevu svojemu da neæe uæi u pokoj moj, ako su djela i bila gotova od postanja svijeta. 4Jer negdje reèe za sedmi dan ovako: i poèinu Bog u dan sedmi od sviju djela svojijeh. 5I na ovom mjestu opet: neæe uæi u pokoj moj. 6Buduæi pak da neki imaju da uðu u njega, i oni kojima je najprije javljeno ne uðoše za neposlušanje; 7Opet odredi jedan dan, danas, govoreæi u Davidu po tolikom vremenu, kao što se prije kaza: danas ako glas njegov èujete, ne budite drvenastijeh srca. 8Jer da je Isus one doveo u pokoj, ne bi za drugi dan govorio potom. 9Daklem je ostavljeno još poèivanje narodu Božijemu. 10Jer koji uðe u pokoj njegov, i on poèiva od djela svojijeh, kao i Bog od svojijeh. 11Da se postaramo dakle uæi u taj pokoj, da ne upadne ko u onu istu gatku nevjerstva. 12Jer je živa rijeè Božija, i jaka, i oštrija od svakoga maèa oštra s obje strane, i prolazi tja do rastavljanja i duše i duha, i zglavaka i mozga, i sudi mislima i pomislima srdaènijem. 13I nema tvari nepoznate pred njim, nego je sve golo i otkriveno pred oèima onoga kojemu govorimo.

Mark 8.22-26 (Gospel)

22I doðe u Vitsaidu; i dovedoše k njemu slijepa, i moljahu ga da ga se dotakne. 23I uzevši za ruku slijepoga izvede ga napolje iz sela, i pljunuvši mu u oèi metnu ruke na nj, i zapita ga vidi li što. 24I pogledavši reèe: vidim ljude gdje idu kao drva. 25I potom opet metnu mu ruke na oèi, i reèe mu da pogleda: i iscijeli se, i vidje sve lijepo. 26I posla ga kuæi njegovoj govoreæi: ne ulazi u selo, niti kazuj kome u selu.

Commemorations

Holy Martyrs Menas, Hermogenes and Eugraphus (235)

Menas was an Athenian, a courtier of the Emperor Maximinus, and a secret Christian. Once there was an outbreak of civil unrest in Alexandria, brought about by various political factions, and by the increasing success of Christian missionaries in turning the Alexandrian people from the idols. The Emperor sent Menas to reconcile the parties and settle the dispute. On his arrival, Menas quickly resolved the political troubles and restored peace to the city; but instead of putting down Christianity as the Emperor had desired, he did everything in his power to protect the Christians and encourage the spread of the Gospel. When word of this came to the Emperor, he sent another trusted courtier, Hermogenes, to re-establish Imperial authority and to execute Menas if he would not renounce Christ. Hermogenes followed these orders scrupulously: he subjected the godly Menas to various horrid tortures in the public arena. But Menas was miraculously preserved through them all, and when he finally appeared in the arena, flanked by two shining Angels, Hermogenes repented and confessed Christ. He in turn became such a fervent advocate for the Gospel that he was soon made a Bishop (!). Finally the Emperor decided that the only solution was to come to Alexandria himself. There he had both Menas and Hermogenes cruelly tortured to death in secret, lest they perform any public miracles; but when the Emperor presented himself before the people at the arena the following day, the two Saints, miraculously preserved, appeared there also, causing the people to cry out “Christ is the only true God!” At the sight, Menas’ scribe Eugraphus declared himself a Christian, leaped into the arena and publicly demanded the honor of dying with them. All three were beheaded. Their precious relics were later taken to Constantinople, where they worked many miracles.