Ephesians 2.19-3.7 (Epistle)

19Tako dakle više nijeste tuði i došljaci, nego živite sa svetima i domaæi ste Bogu, 20Nazidani na temelju apostola i proroka, gdje je kamen od ugla sam Isus Hristos, 21Na kome sva graðevina sastavljena raste za crkvu svetu u Gospodu; 22Na kome æete se i vi sazidati za stan Božij u duhu.

1Toga sam radi ja Pavle sužanj Isusa Hrista za vas neznabošce, 2Buduæi da èuste službu blagodati Božije koja je meni dana meðu vama, 3Da se meni po otkrivenju kaza tajna; kao što gore napisah ukratko, 4Odakle možete èitajuæi poznati moj razum u tajni Hristovoj, 5Koja se u drugijem naraštajima ne kaza sinovima èovjeèijim, kako se sad otkri svetijem njegovijem apostolima i prorocima Duhom svetijem; 6Da neznabošci kroz jevanðelje postanu sunašljednici i sutjelesnici i zajednièari u obeæanju njegovom u Hristu Isusu, 7Kojemu postadoh sluga po daru blagodati Božije, koja mi je dana po èinjenju sile njegove.

Luke 5.12-16 (Gospel)

12I kad bješe Isus u jednom gradu, i gle, èovjek sav u gubi: i vidjevši Isusa pade nièice moleæi mu se i govoreæi: Gospode! ako hoæeš možeš me oèistiti. 13I pruživši ruku dohvati ga se, i reèe: hoæu, oèisti se. I odmah guba spade s njega. 14I on mu zapovjedi da nikom ne kazuje: nego idi i pokaži se svešteniku, i prinesi dar za oèišæenje svoje, kako je zapovjedio Mojsije za svjedoèanstvo njima. 15Ali se glas o njemu još veæma razlažaše, i mnoštvo naroda stjecaše se da ga slušaju i da ih iscjeljuje od njihovijeh bolesti. 16A on odlažaše u pustinju i moljaše se Bogu.

St Cyriacus the Solitary (555/557)

He was born in Corinth of pious Christian parents. At the age of eighteen he went to Palestine, where, after studying under several holy fathers, he entered monastic life and became the disciple of St Gerasim of the Jordan. After St Gerasim’s death he lived in strict solitude, asceticism and silence for many years, finally entering the monastery of St Chariton, where he reposed in peace at the age of 109. Despite his very severe asceticism, he was large and strong, remaining so until the end of his life. According to the rule of St Chariton, he and his fellow-monks ate only once a day, after sunset. In the desert, he lived for years on nothing but the raw plants that he gathered there. He said of himself that, while he was a monk, the sun never saw him eat or be angry with any man.

St Mary of Palestine (6th c.)

“She was at first a reader of the Psalter in the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem, but, being beautiful, she was a source of scandal to the sinful-minded. In order not to be a cause of sin in others, Mary withdrew to the wilderness of Souka with a basket of beans and a flask of water. She spent eighteen years in the desert and, by God’s power, never lacked either beans nor water. Disciples of St Cyriacus found her during her lifetime, and later buried her.” (Prologue)

Holy Martyrs Dada and those with them (4th c.)

Dada was a high Persian official serving in the court of King Shapur II, and secretly a Christian. When he was appointed governor of a province some way from the court, Dada began to worship and proclaim Christ openly. This came to the attention of the King, who sent one of his sons, Gubarlahas, to try and execute him. Dada was tried and condemned to be thrown into a fiery furnace. But when Dada made the sign of the Cross, the fire went out, amazing the Prince and eventually leading him to convert to Christ.

The outraged King had his son thrown in prison and put to torture. Gubarlahas endured days of hideous torture without complaint and, though he had been subjected to horrible mutilations, emerged from his cell unscathed. This wonder led others, including two more of the King’s own children or kin, to embrace Christ. Kazoy, the King’s daughter, was allowed to enter into rest as soon as her tortures began. Gubarlahas was miraculously baptised in the midst of further tortures: A voice from on high pronounced the words of baptism, and a shower of water and oil fell on the Martyr. Not long afterward, he perished, along with Dada and Kasdios, one of Gubarlahas’ kinsmen who had been convinced of the Truth by the miracles he had seen.

Venerable Cyprian of Ustiug (1276)

“Saint Cyprian founded the Monastery of the Entry into the Temple of the Mother of God, near Ustiug in the district of Vologda, in 1212, and he made over all his property to it. He never left the monastery after he became Abbot but gave himself to ascetic labours, as if each day were his last on earth. He watched over the spiritual progress of his monks with fatherly love and willingly sacrificed his time and energy for their good. Saint Cyprian fell asleep in the Lord in 1276. His holy relics lie in his monastery.” (Synaxarion)