Luke 24.1-12 (4th Matins Gospel)

1A u prvi dan nedjeljni doðoše vrlo rano na grob, i donesoše mirise što pripraviše, i neke druge žene s njima; 2Ali naðoše kamen odvaljen od groba. 3I ušavši ne naðoše tijela Gospoda Isusa. 4I kad se one èuðahu tome, gle, dva èovjeka staše pred njima u sjajnijem haljinama; 5A kad se one uplašiše i oboriše lica k zemlji, rekoše im: što tražite živoga meðu mrtvima? 6Nije ovdje; nego ustade; opomenite se kako vam kaza kad bješe još u Galileji, 7Govoreæi da sin èovjeèij treba da se preda u ruke ljudi grješnika i da se razapne i treæi dan da ustane. 8I opomenuše se rijeèi njegovijeh. 9I vrativši se od groba javiše sve ovo jedanaestorici i svima ostalijem. 10A to bijaše Magdalina Marija i Jovana i Marija Jakovljeva i ostale s njima koje kazaše ovo apostolima. 11I njima se uèiniše njihove rijeèi kao laž, i ne vjerovaše im. 12A Petar ustavši otrèa ka grobu, i natkuèivši se vidje same haljine gdje leže, i otide èudeæi se u sebi šta bi.

Romans 6.18-23 (Epistle)

18Oprostivši se pak od grijeha postaste sluge pravdi. 19Kao èovjek govorim, za slabost vašega tijela. Jer kao što dadoste ude svoje za robove neèistoti i bezakonju na bezakonje, tako sad dajite ude svoje za sluge pravdi na posveæenje. 20Jer kad bijaste robovi grijehu, prosti bijaste od pravde. 21Kakav dakle onda imadoste plod za koji se sad stidite? Jer je onoga kraj smrt. 22A sad oprostivši se od grijeha, i postavši sluge Božije, imate plod svoj na posveæenje, a kraj život vjeèni. 23Jer je plata za grijeh smrt, a dar Božij je život vjeèni u Hristu Isusu Gospodu našemu.

Matthew 8.5-13 (Gospel)

5A kad uðe u Kapernaum, pristupi k njemu kapetan moleæi ga 6I govoreæi: Gospode! sluga moj leži doma uzet, i muèi se vrlo. 7A Isus reèe mu: ja æu doæi i iscijeliæu ga. 8I kapetan odgovori i reèe: Gospode! nijesam dostojan da pod krov moj uðeš; nego samo reci rijeè, i ozdraviæe sluga moj. 9Jer i ja sam èovjek pod vlasti, i imam pod sobom vojnike, pa reèem jednome: idi, i ide; i drugome: doði, i doðe; i sluzi svojemu: uèini to, i uèini. 10A kad èu Isus, udivi se i reèe onima što idu za njim: zaista vam kažem: ni u Izrailju tolike vjere ne naðoh. 11I to vam kažem da æe mnogi od istoka i zapada doæi i sješæe za trpezu s Avraamom i Isakom i Jakovom u carstvu nebeskome: 12A sinovi carstva izgnaæe se u tamu najkrajnju; ondje æe biti plaè i škrgut zuba. 13A kapetanu reèe Isus: idi, i kako si vjerovao neka ti bude. I ozdravi sluga njegov u taj èas.

Holy Prophet Amos (8th c. BC)

He was an unlearned shepherd from the village of Tekoa in Zabulon, near Bethlehem. His prophecies, made during the reign of King Uzziah, make up the Old Testament book which bears his name. He is ranked third among the “minor prophets” of the Old Testament.

Holy Martyr Vitus, with Modestus and Crescentia (303)

“St Vitus was born in Sicily of eminent pagan parents. Modestus was his tutor and Crescentia his governess. St Vitus was baptised early and, when only twelve years old, began to live an intensive ascetic life. Angels appeared to him, instructing him and encouraging him in his labours, and he was himself as radiant and handsome as an angel of God. A judge who beat him had the flesh of his arm wither away, but Vitus healed it by his prayers. His father was blinded when he saw twelve angels in his room ‘with eyes like stars and faces like lightning’, but Vitus restored his sight by his prayers. When his father sought to kill him, an angel appeared to him and took him to Lucania on the bank of the river Silaris, together with Modestus and Crescentia. St Vitus performed many miracles there for the sick and insane. He went to Rome at the summons of the Emperor Diocletian and drove out an evil spirit from his son. Far from rewarding him, the Emperor tortured him cruelly when he would not bow down before mute idols, but the Lord delivered him from torture and returned him to Lucania by His invisible arm, and there he and Modestus and Crescentia entered into rest in the Lord. St Vitus’ relics are preserved in Prague.” (Prologue)

In the West, St Vitus’ aid is often invoked for the cure of many ailments, especially insanity and demonic possession. For this reason his name is given to St Vitus’ dance, an acute neurological illness that produces uncontrollable movements in the face and limbs, usually occurring in children.

Blessed Augustine, bishop of Hippo (430), and his mother Monica (387)

After seeking truth among many religious schools, including the Manicheans, Augustine was turned to faith in Christ through the cousel and fervent prayers of his mother St Monica. The story of his early life and conversion is beautifully told in his Confessions. He lived for seventy-six years, the last thirty-five as bishop of Hippo in north Africa. He died in a barbarian attack on that city.

In recent years, a few Orthodox writers have tried to deny that Augustine is a Saint of the Orthodox church (mostly due to some theological errors in his writings which have been unduly promoted in the Latin church). These claims are false: from the time of his canonization, he has been commemorated as a Saint.

Holy Martyr Lazar, Prince of Serbia (1389)

“He was one of the greatest men of Serbia who ruled the kingdom after king Dušan. Upon the death of King Uroš, Lazar was crowned King of Serbia by Patriarch Ephraim. He sent a delegation to Constantinople, including a monk called Isaiah, to plead for the removing of the anathema from the Serbian people. He went to war on several occasions against the Turkish Pasha, finally clashing with the Turkish king, Amurât, at Kosovo on June 15, 1389, being slain there. His body was taken to Ravanica near Cupria, a foundation of his, and buried there, but was later taken to New Ravanica in Srem. During the Second World War, in 1942, it was taken to Belgrade and placed in the Cathedral, where it is preserved to this day and offers comfort and healing to all who turn to him in prayer. He restored Hilandar and Gornjak, built Ravanica and the Lazarica in Kruševac and was the founder of St Panteleimon, the Russian monastery on the Holy Mountain, as well as numerous other churches and monasteries.” (Prologue)