1 Corinthians 9.13-18 (Epistle)

13Ne znate li da oni koji èine svetu službu od svetinje se hrane? i koji oltaru služe s oltarom dijele? 14Tako i Gospod zapovjedi da oni koji jevanðelje propovijedaju od jevanðelja žive. 15A ja to nijedno ne uèinih. I ne pišem ovo da tako bude za mene; jer bih voljeo umrijeti nego da ko slavu moju uništi. 16Jer ako propovijedam jevanðelje, nema mi hvale: jer mi je za nevolju; i teško meni ako jevanðelja ne propovijedam. 17Ako dakle ovo èinim od svoje volje, platu imam; a ako li èinim za nevolju, služba mi je predata. 18Kakva mi je dakle plata? Da propovijedajuæi jevanðelje uèinim bez plate jevanðelje Hristovo, da ne èinim po svojoj vlasti u propovijedanju jevanðelja.

Matthew 16.1-6 (Gospel)

1I pristupiše k njemu fariseji i sadukeji, i kušajuæi ga iskahu da im pokaže znak s neba. 2A on odgovarajuæi reèe im: uveèe govorite: biæe vedro; jer je nebo crveno. 3I ujutru: danas æe biti vjetar, jer je nebo crveno i mutno. Licemjeri! lice nebesko umijete poznavati, a znake vremena ne možete poznati? 4Rod zli i kurvarski traži znak, i znak neæe mu se dati osim znaka Jone proroka. I ostavivši ih otide. 5I polazeæi uèenici njegovi na onu stranu zaboraviše uzeti hljeba. 6A Isus reèe im: èuvajte se kvasca farisejskoga i sadukejskog.

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’.