Hebrews 8.7-13 (Epistle)

7Jer da je onaj prvi bez mane bio, ne bi se drugome tražilo mjesta. 8Jer kudeæi ih govori: evo dani idu, govori Gospod, i naèiniæu s domom Izrailjevijem i s domom Judinijem nov zavjet; 9Ne po zavjetu koji naèinih s ocevima njihovima u onaj dan kad ih uzeh za ruku da ih izvedem iz zemlje Misirske; jer oni ne ostaše u zavjetu mome, i ja ne marih za njih, govori Gospod. 10Jer je ovo zavjet koji æu naèiniti s domom Izrailjevijem poslije onijeh dana, govori Gospod: daæu zakone svoje u misli njihove, i na srcima njihovima napisaæu ih, i biæu im Bog, i oni æe biti meni narod. 11I nijedan neæe uèiti svojega bližnjega, i nijedan brata svojega, govoreæi: poznaj Gospoda; jer æe me svi poznati od maloga do velikoga meðu njima. 12Jer æu biti milostiv nepravdama njihovima, i grijeha njihovijeh i bezakonja njihovijeh neæu više spominjati. 13A kad veli: nov zavjet, prvi naèini vethijem; a što je vetho i ostarjelo, blizu je kraja.

Mark 9.42-10.1 (Gospel)

42A koji sablazni jednoga od ovijeh malijeh koji vjeruju mene, bolje bi mu bilo da se objesi kamen vodenièni o vratu njegovu i da se baci u more. 43I ako te ruka tvoja sablažnjava, otsijeci je: bolje ti je bez ruke u život uæi, negoli s obje ruke uæi u pakao, u oganj vjeèni, 44Gdje crv njihov ne umire, i oganj se ne gasi. 45I ako te noga tvoja sablažnjava, otsijeci je: bolje ti je uæi u život hromu, negoli s dvije noge da te bace u pakao, u oganj vjeèni, 46Gdje crv njihov ne umire, i oganj se ne gasi. 47Ako te i oko tvoje sablažnjava, iskopaj ga: bolje ti je s jednijem okom uæi u carstvo Božije, negoli s dva oka da te bace u pakao ognjeni, 48Gdje crv njihov ne umire, i oganj se ne gasi. 49Jer æe se svaki ognjem posoliti, i svaka æe se žrtva solju posoliti. 50Dobra je so; ali ako so bude neslana, èim æe se osoliti? Imajte so u sebi, i mir imajte meðu sobom.

1I ustavši odande doðe u okoline Judejske preko Jordana, i steèe se opet narod k njemu; i kao što obièaj imaše, opet ih uèaše.

Holy Prophet Haggai (ca. 520 BC)

He was born in Babylon, of the priestly tribe of Levi, during the captivity of the Jews. After their return to Jerusalem, the Jews began to rebuild the Temple and to worship there according to the Law, but were discouraged by opposition from the local population (many of them Jews who had not gone into captivity). So God raised up the holy Prophets Haggai and Zechariah (February 8) to stir the people to complete their sacred work. Haggai’s prophecies reveal that the drought that the Hebrews were suffering was brought about by their failure to complete the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and would only end when they rededicated themselves to their work. He is ranked tenth among the minor Prophets.

Holy Empress and Wonderworker Theophano (893)

She was born to noble parents in Constantinople. Beautiful and pious, she was chosen by the Emperor Basil (867-886) to be the bride of his son Leo VI the Wise. When Leo ascended the throne, the Empress showed no attraction to the honors and pleasures of the royal life, but devoted her days to prayer and almsgiving. She fulfilled all the duties of her Imperial station while living a life of austerity whenever out of the world’s sight. Beneath her rich garments she wore coarse haircloth, and kept fasts and vigils as if she were living the monastic life. She was humble and respectful to all, and would address even her servants as ‘Master’ or ‘Mistress.’ At night, after her servants had left her alone, she would leave her fine bed and sleep on a mat on the floor, rising often during the night to pray.

After her daughter Eudocia died in 892, she wished to leave the world and enter a monastery, but her spiritual father St Euthymius (August 5) would not give his blessing. Nonetheless, her time in the world was not long: only three years later she died, before she had reached the age of thirty. Immediately after her funeral in the Church of the Holy Apostles, her holy relics became the source of many miracles and healings, and are venerated to this day in the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople.