Romans 8.2-13 (Epistle)

2Jer zakon duha koji oživljava u Hristu Isusu, oprostio me je od zakona grjehovnoga i smrti. 3Jer što zakonu bješe nemoguæe, jer bješe oslabljen tijelom, posla Bog sina svojega u oblièju tijela grjehovnoga, i za grijeh osudi grijeh u tijelu, 4Da se pravda zakona ispuni u nama koji ne živimo po tijelu nego po duhu; 5Jer koji su po tijelu tjelesno misle, a koji su po duhu duhovno misle. 6Jer tjelesno mudrovanje smrt je, a duhovno mudrovanje život je i mir. 7Jer tjelesno mudrovanje neprijateljstvo je Bogu, jer se ne pokorava zakonu Božijemu niti može. 8A koji su u tijelu ne mogu Bogu ugoditi. 9A vi nijeste u tijelu nego u duhu; jer Duh Božij u vama živi. A ako ko nema Duha Hristova, on nije njegov. 10A ako je Hristos u vama, onda je tijelo mrtvo grijeha radi a Duh živ pravde radi. 11A ako li živi u vama Duh onoga koji je vaskrsao Isusa iz mrtvijeh, onaj koji je podigao Hrista iz mrtvijeh oživljeæe i vaša smrtna tjelesa Duhom svojijem koji živi u vama. 12Tako dakle, braæo, nijesmo dužni tijelu da po tijelu živimo. 13Jer ako živite po tijelu, pomrijeæete; ako li duhom poslove tjelesne morite, življeæete.

Matthew 10.16-22 (Gospel)

16Eto, ja vas šaljem kao ovce meðu vukove: budite dakle mudri kao zmije i bezazleni kao golubovi. 17A èuvajte se od ljudi; jer æe vas oni predati sudovima, i po zbornicama svojijem biæe vas. 18I pred vlastelje i careve vodiæe vas mene radi za svjedoèanstvo njima i neznabošcima. 19A kad vas predadu, ne brinite se kako æete ili šta æete govoriti; jer æe vam se u onaj èas dati šta æete kazati. 20Jer vi neæete govoriti, nego Duh oca vašega govoriæe iz vas. 21A predaæe brat brata na smrt i otac sina; i ustaæe djeca na roditelje i pobiæe ih. 22I svi æe mrziti na vas imena mojega radi; ali koji pretrpi do kraja blago njemu.

St Metrophanes, Archbishop of Constantinople (325)

He was born into a pagan family, but his father Dometius, along with all his family, became Christians and went to Byzantium to escape persecution in Rome. Dometius was ordained a priest and in time became Bishop of Byzantium. When Dometius died, his elder son Probus became Bishop; then when Probus died, Dometius’ second son Metrophanes succeeded him. Metrophanes was enthroned around the time that Constantine the Great was establishing Byzantium as the new capital of the Roman Empire. He sent a delegate to the First Ecumenical Council in 325, since he was unable to attend due to age and infirmity. The Emperor Constantine loved Metrophanes as a father and urged the entire Council to visit the ailing Bishop. Ten days later he died.

Holy Myrrh-bearers Mary and Martha, sisters of St Lazarus (1st c.)

Mary and Martha, with their brother Lazarus, were especially devoted disciples of our Lord; their story up to the time of the Resurrection can be found in Luke 10 and John 11-12. Mary and Martha were among the Myrrh-bearing women. They, with their brother, reposed in Cyprus, where Lazarus became first Bishop of Kition after he was raised from death by Christ.

An ancient tradition holds that Lazarus was thirty years old when he was restored to life by the Lord, and that he lived another thirty years. After he was raised from the dead, he never again laughed; but once, when he saw someone stealing a clay pot, he smiled and said, ‘Clay stealing clay.’ His name is a Greek version of Eleazar, meaning ‘God has helped.’