1 Corinthians 14.20-25 (Epistle)

20Braæo! ne budite djeca umom, nego pakošæu djetinjite, a umom budite savršeni. 21U zakonu piše: drugijem jezicima i drugijem usnama govoriæu narodu ovome, i ni tako me neæe poslušati, govori Gospod. 22Zato su jezici za znak ne onima koji vjeruju, nego koji ne vjeruju; a proroštvo ne onima koji ne vjeruju, nego koji vjeruju. 23Ako se dakle skupi crkva sva na jedno mjesto, i svi uzgovorite jezicima, a doðu i prostaci, ili nevjernici, neæe li reæi da ste poludjeli? 24A ako svi prorokuju, i doðe kakav nevjernik ili prostak, bude pokaran od sviju i suðen od sviju. 25I tako tajne srca njegova bivaju javljene, i tako padnuvši nièice pokloniæe se Bogu, i kazaæe da je zaista Bog s vama.

Luke 5.17-26 (Gospel)

17I jedan dan uèaše on, i ondje sjeðahu fariseji i zakonici koji bijahu došli iz sviju sela Galilejskijeh i Judejskijeh i iz Jerusalima; i sila Gospodnja iscjeljivaše ih. 18I gle, ljudi donesoše na odru èovjeka koji bješe uzet, i tražahu da ga unesu i metnu preda nj; 19I ne našavši kuda æe ga unijeti od naroda, popeše se na kuæu i kroz krov spustiše ga s odrom na srijedu pred Isusa. 20I vidjevši vjeru njihovu reèe mu: èovjeèe! opraštaju ti se grijesi tvoji. 21I poèeše pomišljati književnici i fariseji govoreæi: ko je ovaj što huli na Boga? Ko može opraštati grijehe osim jednoga Boga? 22A kad razumje Isus pomisli njihove, odgovarajuæi reèe im: šta mislite u srcima svojijem? 23Šta je lakše reæi: opraštaju ti se grijesi tvoji? ili reæi: ustani i hodi? 24Nego da znate da vlast ima sin èovjeèij na zemlji opraštati grijehe, reèe uzetome:) tebi govorim: ustani i uzmi odar svoj i idi kuæi svojoj. 25I odmah ustade pred njima, i uze na èemu ležaše, i otide kuæi svojoj hvaleæi Boga. 26I svi se upropastiše, i hvaljahu Boga, i napunivši se straha govorahu: èuda se nagledasmo danas!

Hieromartyr Dionysius the Areopagite (96)

He is mentioned in Acts 17:19-34. He was a learned Athenian, a member of the Athenian court on Mars Hill (Areos Pagos in Greek, from which the title ‘Areopagite’ comes). At the time of Christ’s crucifixion, he was studying in Egypt and saw the sky darkened there for three hours when Christ breathed His last. He later married and had several children. When St Paul preached in Athens, Dionysius was among the first to believe, and became either the first (according to some) Bishop of Athens, or the second, succeeding St Hierotheos (commemorated tomorrow, October 4). With St Hierotheos he was present at the Dormition of the Mother of God. He received a martyr’s end in his old age, possibly in Athens. Several famous works of mystical theology, including On the Divine Names, are attributed to him.

Holy Hieromartyr Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria, and his disciples (258)

He was a disciple of Origen and became a priest in Alexandria. He became Bishop of Alexandria in 247, serving not only his own see but the whole Church with fervor and compassion. He traveled to Rome to fight the Novatian schisms that disturbed the Body of Christ at that time, and mediated in the dispute between St Cyprian (September 16) and the Pope.

During the reign of Valerian, the new Governor of Alexandra, Emilianus, summoned St Dionysius, along with a group of his clergy, and demanded that they renounce Christ. When all stood firm in the Faith, he exiled them to the remote village of Kephro. But Christians flocked to the village to seek out the holy Bishop, and many pagans in the region were converted by him — so that soon the town was more nearly a Christian mission than a place of exile. When Emilianus learned of this, he exiled the Bishop and his disciples far into the wilderness, where they lived amidst terrible sufferings and hardships for more than twelve years. Saint Dionysius and his deacons Gaius and Faustus all died there; Eusebius the deacon and Maximus the priest eventually escaped. Eusebius became Bishop of Laodicea; Maximus, like his spiritual father, became Bishop of Alexandria.

St John the Chozebite, Bishop of Caesarea in Palestine (532)

He came from a prominent family in Egypt, and was brought up among the Monophysites. He became a monk in his youth, and went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When he attempted to enter the Church of the Resurrection to venerate the Precious Cross, an unseen power prevented him from entering. The next night he heard a voice telling him in his sleep that those who do not embrace the Orthodox faith are unworthy to worship the holy Cross of the Savior. John awoke and hurried to the church where, in tears, he accepted and confessed the entire Orthodox Faith. After returning to Egypt he settled in Palestine, living alone in a cave in the isolated region called Chozeba. There he lived in solitude until one day a couple brought their son, possessed by an evil spirit. They had been sent to John by Ananias, a well-known ascetic of Palestine. John considered himself unworthy to pray for the casting out of demons, so he prayed in the name of Ananias, and the boy was healed. Thenceforth, John’s wonderworking powers became known, and many made the difficult journey to his cave for the healing of spiritual and bodily ailments. Later John, much against his will, was consecrated Bishop of Caesarea; but he was unable to tolerate the cares of episcopal life and fled again to the desert, where he spent the rest of his life. The faithful continued to visit him in great numbers, and many signs and wonders were worked through his prayers. He reposed in peace at a great age.