2 Timothy 1.1-2, 8-18 (Epistle)

1Od Pavla, apostola Isusa Hrista po volji Božijoj za obeæanje života u Isusu Hristu, 2Timotiju, ljubaznome sinu, blagodat, milost, mir od Boga oca i Hrista Isusa Gospoda našega. 8Ne postidi se dakle svjedoèanstva Gospoda našega Isusa Hrista, ni mene sužnja njegova; nego postradaj s jevanðeljem Hristovijem po sili Boga, 9Koji nas spase i prizva zvanjem svetijem, ne po djelima našima, nego po svojoj naredbi i blagodati, koja nam je dana u Hristu Isusu prije vremena vjeènijeh; 10A sad se pokaza u dolasku spasitelja našega Isusa Hrista, koji raskopa smrt, i obasja život i neraspadljivost jevanðeljem; 11Za koje sam ja postavljen apostol i uèitelj neznabožaca. 12Zaradi kojega uzroka i ovo stradam; ali se ne stidim, jer znam kome vjerovah, i uvjeren sam da je kadar amanet moj saèuvati za dan onaj. 13Imaj u pameti obraz zdravijeh rijeèi koje si èuo od mene, u vjeri i ljubavi Hrista Isusa. 14Dobri amanet saèuvaj Duhom svetijem koji živi u nama. 15Znaš ovo da se odvratiše od mene svi u Aziji, meðu kojima je Figel i Ermogen. 16A Gospod da da milost Onisiforovu domu; jer me mnogo puta utješi, i okova mojijeh ne postidje se; 17Nego došavši u Rim potraži me još s veæijem staranjem i naðe. 18Da da njemu Gospod da naðe milost od Gospoda u dan onaj. I u Efesu koliko mi posluži, ti znaš dobro.

Luke 21.37-22.8 (Gospel)

37I danju uèaše u crkvi, a noæu izlažaše i noæivaše na gori koja se zove Maslinska. 38I sav narod dolažaše izjutra k njemu u crkvu da ga slušaju.

1Približavaše se pak praznik prijesnijeh hljebova koji se zove pasha. 2I gledahu glavari sveštenièki i književnici kako bi ga ubili; ali se bojahu naroda. 3A sotona uðe u Judu, koji se zvaše Iskariot, i koji bješe jedan od dvanaestorice. 4I otišavši govori s glavarima sveštenièkijem i sa starješinama kako æe im ga izdati. 5I oni se obradovaše, i ugovoriše da mu dadu novce. 6I on se obreèe, i tražaše zgodna vremena da im ga preda tajno od naroda. 7A doðe dan prijesnijeh hljebova u koji trebaše klati pashu; 8I posla Petra i Jovana rekavši: idite ugotovite nam pashu da jedemo.

Our Venerable Father Daniel the Stylite (490)

He was from Samosata in Mesopotamia, and became a monk at the age of twelve. As a young monk he visited St Symeon the Stylite (September 1) to receive his blessing. Years later he moved to the neighborhood of Constantinople at the request of the holy Patriarch Anatolius (July 3), whom he had healed of a deadly ailment through his prayers. For a time Daniel lived in the church of the Archangel Michael at Anaplus, but nine years later St Symeon the Stylite appeared to him in a vision and told him to imitate Symeon’s ascesis of living on a pillar. For the remaining thirty-three years of his life the Saint did just that. He stood immovably in prayer regardless of the weather: once after a storm his disciples found him standing covered with ice. He was much loved by several Emperors (including Leo the Great), who sought him out for counsel. He reposed at the age of eighty-four, having lived through the reigns of three Emperors.

Saint Nikon the Dry of the Kiev Caves (1101)

He was a monk in Kiev, taken into slavery by a band of Polovtsi (Turkic raiders who were troubling the country at that time) along with the holy Martyr Eustratius (March 28). He humbly refused to be ransomed by his family and therefore suffered a harsh captivity for three years. Despite this, he prayed constantly for his captors, worked miracles for their sake, and once healed their leader from a deadly illness. One day St Eustratius appeared to him in a vision and told him that he would be set free in three days. When he told his captors, they severed the tendons of his knees and ankles and kept him under guard. But at the appointed time he was miraculously transported to Kiev, where he suddenly appeared in church among his astonished brethren. The Saint did not want his chains removed until his Abbot said “Brother, if the Lord wanted to see you in these chains, he would not have delivered you from captivity!” He was so withered from his hardships that he became known as Nikon the Dry. Later, the captor whom he had healed came to the Monastery of the Caves and became a disciple of his former slave.

Our Venerable Father Luke the New Stylite (979)

He was an Anatolian, and in his youth served in the Byzantine army in the war against the Bulgar Tsar Symeon. After the war, he left the army to become a monk, and was in time ordained to the priesthood. For a time he served as an army chaplain, living even more austerely than he had as a monk and distributing all his possessions to soldiers in need.

He entered the Monastery of St Zacharias on Mount Olympus in Bithynia, where he was appointed steward. Here his ascetical labors reached new levels. He kept a large stone in his mouth so that he would be unable to speak, and spent each night in a tree. When his exploits threatened to attract admiration, Luke fled to his homeland and lived for a few years in an isolated cave. Then, following in the footsteps of Symeon the Elder (September 1), Symeon the Younger (May 24), Daniel (today) and Alypius (November 26), he began to live as a stylite, dwelling on a tall pillar near Constantinople. Here he became a powerful intercessor for those who flocked to him for healing or counsel, and countless miracles were worked through his prayers.

Saint Luke lived on his pillar for more than forty years without interruption, and fell asleep in peace, aged more than one hundred. He was buried in the Monastery of St Bassian.