1 Corinthians 7.35-8.7 (Epistle)

35A ovo govorim na korist vama samijem, ne da vam nametnem zamku na vrat, nego za lijepu i pristojnu službu Gospodu bez smetnje. 36Ako li pak ko misli da je sramota za njegovu djevojku kad ostane usidjelica, i ne može drukèije biti, neka èini šta hoæe, ne griješi ako se uda. 37A koji stoji tvrdo u srcu, i nema nevolje, a ima vlast nad svojom voljom, i ovo je rasudio u srcu svojemu da zadrži djevojku, dobro èini. 38Tako i onaj koji udaje svoju djevojku dobro èini; ali koji ne udaje bolje èini. 39Žena je privezana zakonom dokle joj god živi muž; a ako joj umre muž, slobodna je za koga hoæe da se uda, samo u Gospodu. 40Ali je blaženija ako ostane tako po mojemu svjetu; jer mislim da i ja imam Duha Božijega.

1A za meso što je klato idolima znamo, jer svi razum imamo. Razum dakle nadima, a ljubav popravlja. 2Ako li ko misli da što zna, ne zna još ništa kao što treba znati. 3A ako ko ljubi Boga, Bog ga je nauèio. 4A za jelo idolskijeh žrtava, znamo da idol nije ništa na svijetu, i da nema drugoga Boga osim jedinoga. 5Jer ako i ima koji se bogovi zovu, ili na nebu ili na zemlji, kao što ima mnogo bogova i mnogo gospoda: 6Ali mi imamo samo jednoga Boga oca, od kojega je sve, i mi u njemu, i jednoga Gospoda Isusa Hrista, kroz kojega je sve, i mi kroza nj. 7Ali nema svatko razuma; jer neki koji još i sad misle da su idoli nešto, kao idolske žrtve jedu, i savjest njihova, slaba buduæi, pogani se.

Matthew 15.29-31 (Gospel)

29I otišavši Isus odande, doðe k moru Galilejskom, i popevši se na goru, sjede ondje. 30I pristupiše k njemu ljudi mnogi koji imahu sa sobom hromijeh, slijepijeh, nijemijeh, uzetijeh i drugijeh mnogijeh, i položiše ih k nogama Isusovijem, i iscijeli ih, 31Tako da se narod divljaše, videæi nijeme gdje govore, uzete zdrave, hrome gdje idu, i slijepe gdje gledaju; i hvališe Boga Izrailjeva.

Holy Martyrs Proclus and Hilarius (2nd c.)

Proclus was the uncle of Hilarius; both were from Kallippi in Asia during the reign of Trajan. When Proclus was brought to be tried as a Christian, the judge asked him ‘Of what race are you?’ Proclus answered ‘I am of the race of Christ, and my hope is in my God.’ When the judge threatened to torture him, he said ‘When you are afraid to transgress the Emperor’s commands and risk falling into temporal punishment, how much more do we Christians fear to transgress against God’s commands and fall into eternal torment!’ When Proclus was given over to torture, his nephew Hilarius came forward and proclaimed ‘I too am a Christian.’ After torture, both were condemned to death; Proclus was crucified and Hilarius beheaded.

Imagine how the Orthodox Church would benefit if, when we were asked ‘Of what race are you?’ the first answer that came to mind was not ‘I am Greek, Russian, Serbian…’ but ‘I am of the race of Christ!’

St Veronica, the woman with the issue of blood who was healed by the Savior

See Matthew ch. 9, Mark ch. 5, and Luke ch. 8. After the events told in the Gospel, she spent the remainder of her life as a follower of Christ and reposed in peace.

Saint Païsios of the Holy Mountain (1994) (June 29 OC)

‘The future Elder Paisius was born in 1924 and baptized by St. Arsenius of Cappadocia. He spent his youth as a carpenter until WW II, during which he repeatedly distinguished himself in the army by his bravery and self-sacrifice. In 1950 he went to Mt. Athos for eight years, where he was tonsured. Then he was asked to spend some time in his home village of Epirus, in order to defend the faithful against Protestant proselytism. He returned to Mt. Athos in 1964 and stayed in several monasteries, eventually settling in the Panagouda hermitage of Koutloumousiou Monastery, where he remained for fifteen years. Here his reputation as a holy elder and guide grew, and he tirelessly received those thirsting for spiritual direction, allowing himself only two or three hours of sleep each day. He reposed in 1994, one of the most well-known and beloved contemporary elders. Many of his counsels and other writings have been published.’ (St Herman Calendar, 1994)

Elder Païsios was glorified by the Church in 2015; he is commemorated on the anniversary of his repose.