Luke 24.36-53 (6th Matins Gospel)

36A kad oni ovo govorahu, i sam Isus stade meðu njima, i reèe im: mir vam. 37A oni se uplašiše, i poplašeni buduæi, mišljahu da vide duha. 38I reèe im: šta se plašite? I zašto takove misli ulaze u srca vaša? 39Vidite ruke moje i noge moje: ja sam glavom; opipajte me i vidite; jer duh tijela i kostiju nema kao što vidite da ja imam. 40I ovo rekavši pokaza im ruke i noge. 41A dok oni još ne vjerovahu od radosti i èuðahu se reèe im: imate li ovdje što za jelo? 42A oni mu daše komad ribe peèene, i meda u satu. 43I uzevši izjede pred njima. 44I reèe im: ovo su rijeèi koje sam vam govorio još dok sam bio s vama, da sve treba da se svrši što je za mene napisano u zakonu Mojsijevu i u prorocima i u psalmima. 45Tada im otvori um da razumiju pismo. 46I reèe im: tako je pisano, i tako je trebalo da Hristos postrada i da ustane iz mrtvijeh treæi dan; 47I da se propovijeda pokajanje u ime njegovo i oproštenje grijeha po svijem narodima poèevši od Jerusalima. 48A vi ste svjedoci ovome. 49I gle, ja æu poslati obeæanje oca svojega na vas; a vi sjedite u gradu Jerusalimskome dok se ne obuèete u silu s visine. 50I izvede ih napolje do Vitanije, i podignuvši ruke svoje blagoslovi ih. 51I kad ih blagosiljaše, otstupi od njih, i uznošaše se na nebo. 52I oni mu se pokloniše, i vratiše se u Jerusalim s velikom radošæu. 53I bijahu jednako u crkvi hvaleæi i blagosiljajuæi Boga. Amin.

Romans 12.6-14 (Epistle)

6A imamo razlièite darove po blagodati koja nam je dana: ako proroštvo, neka bude po mjeri vjere; 7Ako li službu, neka služi; ako je uèitelj, neka uèi; 8Ako je tješitelj, neka tješi; koji daje neka daje prosto; koji upravlja neka se brine; koji èini milost neka èini s dobrom voljom. 9Ljubav da ne bude lažna. Mrzeæi na zlo držite se dobra. 10Bratskom ljubavi budite jedan k drugome ljubazni. Èašæu jedan drugoga veæeg èinite. 11Ne budite u poslu lijeni; budite ognjeni u duhu, služite Gospodu. 12Nadanjem veselite se, u nevolji trpite, u molitvi budite jednako. 13Dijelite potrebe sa svetima; primajte rado putnike. 14Blagosiljajte one koji vas gone: blagosiljajte, a ne kunite.

Matthew 9.1-8 (Gospel)

1I ušavši u laðu prijeðe i doðe u svoj grad. 2I gle, donesoše mu uzeta koji ležaše na odru. I vidjevši Isus vjeru njihovu reèe uzetome: ne boj se, sinko, opraštaju ti se grijesi tvoji. 3I gle, neki od književnika rekoše u sebi: ovaj huli na Boga. 4I videæi Isus pomisli njihove reèe: zašto zlo mislite u srcima svojijem? 5Jer šta je lakše reæi: opraštaju ti se grijesi; ili reæi: ustani i hodi? 6Ali da znate da vlast ima sin èovjeèij na zemlji opraštati grijehe tada reèe uzetome): ustani, uzmi odar svoj i idi doma. 7I ustavši otide doma. 8A ljudi videæi èudiše se, i hvališe Boga, koji je dao vlast takovu ljudima.

St Thomas of Mt Maleon (10th c.)

He was a renowned general, known for his great size and courage, his many victories against barbarian enemies, and his considerable wealth. But, forsaking wealth and reputation to follow Christ, he retired to the desert to live in asceticism. The Prophet Elias appeared to him and, accompanied by a pillar of fire, led him to Mount Maleon, near the Holy Mountain. There he lived in solitude, giving his days and nights to prayer. Like so many who seek to hide their holiness from the world, he was discovered, and people began to come to him for healing of their ailments and those of their loved ones. The saint healed countless ailments, drove out demons, cured the blind, and made water to pour forth from barren earth. In prayer he appeared as a pillar of fire. He reposed in peace, and his relics continued to be a powerful source of healing.

Holy Martyr Kyriake of Nicomedia (289)

Dorotheos and Eusebia, a devout, aging Christian couple who lived in Anatolia, had no children. After many years, their fervent prayers for a child were answered, and they were blessed with a daughter, whom they named Kyriake (‘Sunday’ in Greek) because she was born on the Lord’s day. The child grew up beautiful in body and soul and, though she had many suitors, chose to consecrate herself entirely to God and remain single. One of her suitors, angered at her refusal, denounced her and her parents to the Emperor Diocletian. Dorotheos and Eusebia were subjected to cruel tortures, then sent into exile, where they died under further torture. Kyriake was sent to Maximian, Diocletian’s son-in-law, for trial. By his orders, she was subjected to a horrifying series of torments; but Christ Himself appeared to her in prison, healing and comforting her. Many pagans came to believe in Christ when they saw her miraculously saved from death by fire or from wild beasts; all of these were beheaded. Kyriake told Apollonius, the general who supervised her tortures: ‘There is no way that you can turn me from my faith. Throw me into the fire — I have the example of the Three Children. Throw me to the wild beasts — I have the example of Daniel. Throw me into the sea — I have the example of Jonah the Prophet. Put me to the sword — I will remember the honored Forerunner. For me, to die is life in Christ.’ Apollonius then ordered that she be beheaded. At the place of execution, she raised her hands in prayer and gave up her soul to God before the executioner could take her life.

Note: St Kyriake is also known as Dominica or Nedelja, Latin and Slavonic words for ‘Sunday’.