2 Timothy 4.9-22 (Epistle)

9Postaraj se da doðeš brzo k meni; 10Jer me Dimas ostavi, omiljevši mu sadašnji svijet, i otide u Solun; Kriskent u Galatiju, Tit u Dalmaciju; Luka je sam kod mene. 11Marka uzmi i dovedi ga sa sobom; jer mi je dobar za službu. 12A Tihika poslao sam u Efes. 13Kad doðeš donesi mi kabanicu što sam ostavio u Troadi kod Karpa, i knjige, a osobito kožne. 14Aleksandar kovaè mnogo mi zla uèini. Da mu Gospod plati po djelu njegovu. 15Èuvaj se i ti od njega; jer se vrlo protivi našijem rijeèima. 16U prvi moj odgovor niko ne osta sa mnom, nego me svi ostaviše. Da im se ne primi! 17Ali Gospod bi sa mnom i dade mi pomoæ da se kroza me svrši propovijedanje, i da èuju svi neznabošci; i izbavih se od usta lavovijeh. 18I Gospod æe me izbaviti od svakoga zla djela, i saèuvaæe me za carstvo svoje nebesko; kojemu slava va vijek vijeka. Amin. 19Pozdravi Priskilu i Akilu, i Onisiforov dom. 20Erast osta u Korintu. A Trofima ostavih u Miletu bolesna. 21Postaraj se da doðeš prije zime. Pozdravlja te Euvul, i Pud, i Lin, i Klaudija, i braæa sva. 22Gospod Isus Hristos sa duhom tvojijem. Blagodat s vama. Amin.

Mark 8.30-34 (Gospel)

30I zaprijeti im da nikom ne kazuju za njega. 31I poèe ih uèiti da sinu èovjeèijemu valja mnogo postradati, i da æe ga okriviti starješine i glavari sveštenièki i književnici, i da æe ga ubiti, i treæi dan da æe ustati. 32I govoraše o tom ne ustruèavajuæi se. I Petar uze ga i poèe ga odvraæati. 33A on obrnuvši se i pogledavši na uèenike svoje zaprijeti Petru govoreæi: idi od mene sotono; jer ti ne misliš što je Božije nego što je ljudsko. 34I dozvavši narod s uèenicima svojima reèe im: ko hoæe za mnom da ide neka se odreèe sebe i uzme krst svoj, i za mnom ide.

Holy Prophet Haggai (ca. 520 BC)

He was born in Babylon, of the priestly tribe of Levi, during the captivity of the Jews. After their return to Jerusalem, the Jews began to rebuild the Temple and to worship there according to the Law, but were discouraged by opposition from the local population (many of them Jews who had not gone into captivity). So God raised up the holy Prophets Haggai and Zechariah (February 8) to stir the people to complete their sacred work. Haggai’s prophecies reveal that the drought that the Hebrews were suffering was brought about by their failure to complete the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and would only end when they rededicated themselves to their work. He is ranked tenth among the minor Prophets.

Holy Empress and Wonderworker Theophano (893)

She was born to noble parents in Constantinople. Beautiful and pious, she was chosen by the Emperor Basil (867-886) to be the bride of his son Leo VI the Wise. When Leo ascended the throne, the Empress showed no attraction to the honors and pleasures of the royal life, but devoted her days to prayer and almsgiving. She fulfilled all the duties of her Imperial station while living a life of austerity whenever out of the world’s sight. Beneath her rich garments she wore coarse haircloth, and kept fasts and vigils as if she were living the monastic life. She was humble and respectful to all, and would address even her servants as ‘Master’ or ‘Mistress.’ At night, after her servants had left her alone, she would leave her fine bed and sleep on a mat on the floor, rising often during the night to pray.

After her daughter Eudocia died in 892, she wished to leave the world and enter a monastery, but her spiritual father St Euthymius (August 5) would not give his blessing. Nonetheless, her time in the world was not long: only three years later she died, before she had reached the age of thirty. Immediately after her funeral in the Church of the Holy Apostles, her holy relics became the source of many miracles and healings, and are venerated to this day in the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople.