Hebrews 9.24-28 (Epistle)

24Jer Hristos ne uðe u rukotvorenu svetinju, koja je prilika prave, nego u samo nebo, da se pokaže sad pred licem Božijim za nas; 25Niti da mnogo puta prinosi sebe, kao što poglavar sveštenièki ulazi u svetinju svake godine s krvlju tuðom: 26Inaèe bi on morao mnogo puta stradati od postanja svijeta; a sad jednom na svršetku vijeka javi se da svojom žrtvom satre grijeh. 27I kao što je ljudima odreðeno jednom umrijeti, a potom sud: 28Tako se i Hristos jednom prinese, da uzme mnogijeh grijehe; a drugom æe se javiti bez grijeha na spasenije onima koji ga èekaju.

Hebrews 9.1-7 (Epistle, Theotokos)

1Tako i prvi zavjet imaše pravde bogomoljstva i svetinju zemaljsku. 2Jer skinija bješe naèinjena prva, u kojoj bijaše svijeænjak i trpeza i postavljeni hljebovi, što se zove svetinja. 3A za drugijem zavjesom bijaše skinija, koja se zove svetinja nad svetinjama, 4Koja imaše zlatnu kadionicu, i kovèeg zavjeta okovan svuda zlatom, u kome bijaše zlatan sud s manom, i palica Aronova, koja se bješe omladila, i ploèe zavjeta. 5A više njega bijahu heruvimi slave, koji osjenjavahu oltar; o èemu se ne može sad govoriti redom. 6A kad ovo bijaše tako ureðeno, ulažahu sveštenici svagda u prvu skiniju i savršivahu službu Božiju. 7A u drugu ulažaše jednom u godini sam poglavar sveštenièki, ne bez krvi, koju prinosi za sebe i za narodna neznanja.

Mark 8.27-31 (Gospel)

27I iziðe Isus i uèenici njegovi u sela Æesarije Filipove; i putem pitaše uèenike svoje govoreæi im: ko govore ljudi da sam ja? 28A oni odgovoriše: Jovan krstitelj; drugi: Ilija; a drugi: koji od proroka. 29A on im reèe: a vi šta mislite ko sam ja? A Petar odgovarajuæi reèe mu: ti si Hristos. 30I zaprijeti im da nikom ne kazuju za njega. 31I poèe ih uèiti da sinu èovjeèijemu valja mnogo postradati, i da æe ga okriviti starješine i glavari sveštenièki i književnici, i da æe ga ubiti, i treæi dan da æe ustati.

Luke 10.38-42, 11.27-28 (Gospel, Theotokos)

38A kad iðahu putem i on uðe u jedno selo, a žena neka, po imenu Marta, primi ga u svoju kuæu. 39I u nje bješe sestra, po imenu Marija, koja i sjede kod nogu Isusovijeh i slušaše besjedu njegovu. 40A Marta se bješe zabunila kako æe ga doèekati, i prikuèivši se reèe: Gospode! zar ti ne mariš što me sestra moja ostavi samu da služim? reci joj dakle da mi pomože. 41A Isus odgovarajuæi reèe joj: Marta! Marta! brineš se i trudiš za mnogo, 42A samo je jedno potrebno. Ali je Marija dobri dijel izabrala, koji se neæe uzeti od nje. 27A kad to govoraše, podiže glas jedna žena iz naroda i reèe mu: blago utrobi koja te je nosila, i sisama koje si sao! 28A on reèe: blago i onima koji slušaju rijeè Božiju, i drže je.

Monk-martyr Nikon and 199 disciples, in Sicily (251)

He was born in Neapolis (Naples) to a pagan father and a Christian mother, and became an officer in the Roman army. Though he was not baptised, his mother had secretly instructed him in the Christian faith. Once, in a battle, his company was completely surrounded by the enemy, and Nikon recalled his mother’s counseling that, whenever he was in trouble, he should make the sign of the Cross and call upon Christ. This he did, and was immediately filled with strength and resolution, so that the enemy’s army was routed. Nikon went home, openly crying out ‘Great is the God of the Christians!’ to the great joy of his mother.

He traveled secretly to Cyzicus in Asia, where the bishop Theodosius baptised him. He then entered a monastery to spend his days in prayer and study. But some years later Theodosius, who was near death, had a vision in which he was told to consecrate Nikon as his successor. He summoned Nikon from the monastery and, to the monk’s amazement, immediately ordained him a deacon, then a priest, then a bishop.

Later, bishop Nikon returned to Italy to preach the Gospel of Christ. In Naples, he found his mother still alive, and remained with her until her death. He then set out with nine disciples, former fellow-soldiers, to proclaim the Faith. Through the Saint’s grace-filled preaching and example, many more disciples were soon added to this number. At that time a great persecution of Christians was underway, and Quintinianus, ruler of that region, seized Nikon and his companions and handed them over to the torturers. One hundred ninety of Nikon’s companions perished under torture. Nikon himself was beaten, flayed, and even thrown from a high cliff, but was miraculously preserved. Finally he was slain by the sword and his body thrown in a field to be eaten by the beasts. A shepherd boy, possessed by a spirit of madness, found the body, fell on it, and was instantly healed. He told his story to some Christians, who found the body and gave it honorable burial. Saint Nikon contested during the reign of the Emperor Decius.