Hebrews 11.17-23, 27-31 (Epistle)

17Vjerom privede Avraam Isaka kad bi kušan, i jedinorodnoga prinošaše, pošto bješe primio obeæanje, 18U kojemu bješe kazano: u Isaku nazvaæe ti se sjeme; 19Pomislivši da je Bog kadar i iz mrtvijeh vaskrsnuti; zato ga i uze za priliku. 20Vjerom blagoslovi Isak Jakova i Isava u stvarima koje æe doæi. 21Vjerom blagoslovi Jakov umiruæi svakoga sina Josifova, i pokloni se vrhu palice njegove. 22Vjerom se opominja Josif umiruæi izlaska sinova Izrailjevijeh, i zapovijeda za kosti svoje. 23Vjerom Mojsija, pošto se rodi, kriše tri mjeseca roditelji njegovi, jer vidješe krasno dijete, i ne pobojaše se zapovijesti careve. 27Vjerom ostavi Misir, ne pobojavši se ljutine careve; jer se držaše onoga koji se ne vidi, kao da ga viðaše. 28Vjerom uèini pashu i proljev krvi, da se onaj koji gubljaše prvoroðene ne dotakne do njih. 29Vjerom prijeðoše Crveno More kao po suhoj zemlji; koje i Misirci okušavši potopiše se. 30Vjerom padoše zidovi Jerihonski, kad se obilazi oko njih sedam dana. 31Vjerom Raav kurva ne pogibe s nevjernicima, primivši uhode s mirom, i izvedavši ih drugijem putem.

Mark 8.11-21 (Gospel)

11I iziðoše fariseji, i poèeše se prepirati s njim, i kušajuæi ga iskahu od njega znak s neba. 12I uzdahnuvši duhom svojijem reèe: zašto rod ovaj znak traži? Zaista vam kažem: neæe se dati rodu ovome znak. 13I ostavivši ih uljeze opet u laðu, i otide na onu stranu. 14I zaboraviše uèenici njegovi uzeti hljeba, i nemahu sa sobom u laði do jedan hljeb. 15I zapovijedaše im govoreæi: gledajte, èuvajte se kvasca farisejskoga i kvasca Irodova. 16I mišljahu jedan drugome govoreæi: to je što hljeba nemamo. 17I razumjevši Isus reèe im: šta mislite što hljeba nemate? Zar još ne osjeæate, niti razumijete? Zar je još okamenjeno srce vaše? 18Oèi imate i ne vidite? uši imate i ne èujete? I ne pamtite li 19Kad ja pet hljebova prelomih na pet hiljada, koliko kotarica punijeh komada nakupiste? Rekoše mu: dvanaest. 20A kad sedam na èetiri hiljade, koliko punijeh kotarica nakupiste komada? A oni rekoše: sedam. 21I reèe im: kako ne razumijete?

Holy Hieromartyr Eleutherius, Bishop of Illyria, and those with him (126)

His name is a form of the Greek word for “freedom.” He was a native of Rome whose father died at a young age, leaving him to be brought up by his mother Anthia, a Christian who reared him in the fear of God and the love of holiness. His virtue and ability were so evident that he was ordained a priest at the age of seventeen and at twenty was made Bishop of Illyria, a large see roughly comprising modern-day Serbia.

The young bishop’s pastoral and evangelistic work was so successful that many pagans were converted to the Faith through him. His growing reputation drew the attention of the Emperor Hadrian, who sent one of his senior officers named Felix to arrest the holy bishop. But when Felix saw and heard Eleutherius, he was captivated by his teaching, believed in Christ, and was baptized. He and the St Eleutherius returned and presented themselves together before the Emperor, fearlessly confessing their faith.

Eleutherius was subjected to brutal torture, during which the city prefect Coremonus, who had suggested some of the tortures, was enlightened through the Saint’s prayers for his enemies, and proclaimed Christ. He was baptized by Eleutherius and later beheaded. After a time, when it became clear that fire and torture would not move the holy bishop, he was taken to the amphitheater and beheaded. At the moment of his death, his mother Anthia rushed forward and took his body in her arms. There she also was beheaded by the executioners.

Pregnant women call on St Eleutherius that they may have a safe delivery.

Holy Martyr Eleutherius the Cubicularius (4th c.)

He was from a noble family in Constantinople, and rose to the rank of Cubicularius (Chamberlain). He was not only a counselor to, but a close friend of, the Emperor (probably Julian the Apostate). But Eleutherius was increasingly moved by a desire to become a Christian; so, obtaining a leave from the Imperial court, he moved to the countryside in Bithynia, where he was baptized. There he built a house that concealed an underground chapel.

When Eleutherius returned to court, some jealous courtiers denounced him to the Emperor, who visited Eleutherius’ country house and was furious to discover the underground church. When the Saint would not renounce his faith in Christ, the Emperor, ignoring all previous bonds of friendship, had him beheaded.

Holy Martyr Bacchus the New (787)

During the reign of Constantine VI and Irene, restorers of the holy icons, the Holy Land was under the control of the Muslim Arabs. Many Christians there apostatized, putting honors and security in this world above their eternal joy. One of these was the father of this Saint, who brought up seven children as Muslims. His wife however, never renounced her Faith and prayed constantly for the conversion of her husband and children. Upon the death of the father, her third son Dachak declared that he wished to become a Christian. He was baptized in the Monastery of St Sabas near Jerusalem, receiving the name Bacchus, and determined to be a monk. But the abbot, fearing reprisals against the Monastery, sent him back to his home in Jerusalem. His brothers, seeing his joy and boldness in confessing the Faith, decided to receive holy Baptism, except for one, who denounced Bacchus to the authorities. He was arrested and brought before the judge and, when he proved steadfast in his confession of Christ, was beheaded.

Our Venerable Father Tryphon of Kola, apostle of Laponia (1583), and his disciple the Holy Martyr Jonah (1590)

Saint Tryphon was the son of a priest from Novgorod. The Synaxarion records that, at the moment of his birth, the verse Blessed is the life of those who dwell in the desert was being sung in the Matins service. In 1525 he was moved by a divine revelation to flee to the far north of Russia and live as a hermit. He settled near the River Kola, where he devoted his nights to prayer, his days to proclaiming the Gospel of Christ to the native peoples there. The pagans were hostile at first, but his patience and humility won them over, and he baptized many. He built them a church with his own hands on the shores of Lake Ladoga, and later founded a monastery there. Saint Tryphon reposed in 1583. He predicted his own death and the coming destruction of the Monastery by the Swedes, which came to pass in 1590. All the monks were massacred. The first victim, Starets Jonah, worked many miracles at the Monastery after its restoration.