Colossians 1.24-29 (Epistle)

24Sad se radujem u svojemu stradanju za vas, i dovršujem nedostatak nevolja Hristovijeh na tijelu svojemu za tijelo njegovo koje je crkva, 25Kojoj ja postadoh sluga po naredbi Božijoj koja mi je dana meðu vama da ispunim rijeè Božiju, 26Tajnu koja je bila sakrivena od postanja svijeta i naraštaja, a sad se javi svetima njegovijem, 27Kojima Bog naumi pokazati kako je bogata slava tajne ove meðu neznabošcima, koje je Hristos u vama, nad slave; 28Kojega mi propovijedamo svjetujuæi svakoga èovjeka, i uèeæi svakoj premudrosti, da pokažemo svakoga èovjeka savršena u Hristu Isusu. 29Za što se i trudim i borim po njegovoj moæi koja u meni silno èini.

Luke 11.14-23 (Gospel)

14I jednom izgna ðavola koji bješe nijem; kad ðavo iziðe progovori nijemi; i diviše se ljudi. 15A neki od njih rekoše: pomoæu Veelzevula kneza ðavolskoga izgoni ðavole. 16A drugi kušajuæi ga iskahu od njega znak s neba. 17A on znajuæi pomisli njihove reèe im: svako carstvo koje se razdijeli samo po sebi, opustjeæe, i dom koji se razdijeli sam po sebi, propašæe. 18Tako i sotona ako se razdijeli sam po sebi, kako æe ostati njegovo carstvo? kao što kažete da pomoæu Veelzevula izgonim ðavole. 19Ako li ja pomoæu Veelzevula izgonim ðavole, sinovi vaši èijom pomoæu izgone? Zato æe vam oni biti sudije. 20A ako li ja prstom Božijim izgonim ðavole, dakle je došlo k vama carstvo Božije. 21Kad se jaki naoruža i èuva svoj dvor, imanje je njegovo na miru; 22A kad doðe jaèi od njega i nadvlada ga, uzme sve oružje njegovo u koje se uzdao, i razdijeli što otme od njega. 23Koji nije sa mnom, protiv mene je; i koji sa mnom ne sabira, prosipa.

Holy Virgin Martyr Anastasia of Rome (256)

She lived in Rome during the reigns of the Emperors Decius and Valerian. At an early age she left all to embrace a life of unceasing prayer, entering a small monastery in Rome, directed by a nun named Sophia. For her Christian faith, she was seized and brought before the governor Probus and, when she boldly confessed Christ and refused to honor the idols, was subjected to a series of vicious tortures, under which she died. An angel led Sophia to retrieve her holy relics, which are now venerated at the monastery of Grigoriou on Mt Athos.

We are sometimes told that monasticism developed in the Church after Christianity became accepted and grew more worldly. The story of St Anastasia is one of many evidences in the lives of the Saints that what we now call monasticism was present from the earliest days of the Church.

Our Holy Father Abramius (366) and his niece Mary (371) of Mesopotamia

Abramius was a Christian of noble birth who, early in life, left all (including a young bride) to live as a solitary monk. This he did for fifty years. When Abramius’ brother died, leaving his seven-year-old daughter Mary orphaned and alone, The Saint took her under his care, giving her a monastic cell near his own. Though Mary devoted herself joyfully to the monastic life, when she was about twenty she fell into sin with a corrupt monk who visited the hermitage. Far worse, she then fell into despair, thinking that she had cast away her salvation, and fled the hermitage to become a harlot in a nearby town. Abramius, unaware of what had happened or where she had gone, prayed constantly for her safety and to be shown where she had fled.

One day a traveler told Abramius what had become of his niece. Immediately he rose up, dressed himself as a soldier and went to the brothel where Mary worked, “for the salvation of a soul meant more to him than hermitage, Habit, ascesis or prayer itself” (Synaxarion). Still disguised, he ordered a meal, his first wine and meat for fifty years, then went with Mary to her room. Only then did he reveal himself, and with tears, not accusing her at all, pleaded with her to leave that place and return with him. “Let us go, my child; let us return to our hermitage. Let your fault be mine. I will answer for it before Christ on the day of judgment.” She returned with him and, with repentance, prayed so ardently that she was soon granted not only assurance of forgiveness but the power to work miracles. St Abramius reposed in peace in great old age; Mary followed him into eternal joy five years later.