Acts 25.13-19 (Epistle)

13A pošto proðe nekoliko dana, Agripa car i Vernikija siðoše u Æesariju da pohode Fista. 14I buduæi da ondje mnogo dana ostaše, kaza Fist caru za Pavla govoreæi: èovjeka jednoga ostavio je Filiks u tamnici, 15Za kojega, kad ja bijah u Jerusalimu, iziðoše preda me glavari sveštenièki i starješine Jevrejske moleæi da ga osudim. 16Ja im odgovorih da nije obièaj u Rimljana da se prije pokloni kakav èovjek na smrt dok se optuženi ne suoèi s onima koji ga tuže, i ne primi mjesto da odgovara za svoju krivicu. 17A kad se oni ovdje sastaše, nikakvoga odlaganja ne uèinih, i sjutradan sjedavši na sudijnsku stolicu zapovjedih da dovedu èovjeka. 18A oko njega stavši suparnici ni jedne krivice koje ja mišljah ne iznesoše. 19Nego imahu protiv njega nekakva pitanja o svojemu sujevjerju, i o nekakvom Isusu, koji je umro pa Pavle govoraše da je živ.

John 16.23-33 (Gospel)

23I u onaj dan neæete me pitati ni za što. Zaista, zaista vam kažem da što god uzištete u oca u ime moje, daæe vam. 24Doslije ne iskaste ništa u ime moje; ištite i primiæete, da radost vaša bude ispunjena. 25Ovo vam govorih u prièama; ali æe doæi vrijeme kad vam više neæu govoriti u prièama, nego æu vam upravo javiti za oca. 26U onaj æete dan u ime moje zaiskati, i ne velim vam da æu ja umoliti oca za vas; 27Jer sam otac ima ljubav k vama kao što vi imaste ljubav k meni, i vjerovaste da ja od Boga iziðoh. 28Iziðoh od oca, i doðoh na svijet; i opet ostavljam svijet, i idem k ocu. 29Rekoše mu uèenici njegovi: eto sad upravo govoriš, a prièe nikakve ne govoriš. 30Sad znamo da sve znaš, i ne treba ti da te ko pita. Po tome vjerujemo da si od Boga izišao. 31Isus im odgovori: zar sad vjerujete? 32Evo ide èas, i veæ je nastao, da se razbjegnete svaki na svoju stranu i mene sama ostavite; ali nijesam sam, jer je otac sa mnom. 33Ovo vam kazah, da u meni mir imate. U svijetu æete imati nevolju; ali ne bojte se, jer ja nadvladah svijet.

St Metrophanes, Archbishop of Constantinople (325)

He was born into a pagan family, but his father Dometius, along with all his family, became Christians and went to Byzantium to escape persecution in Rome. Dometius was ordained a priest and in time became Bishop of Byzantium. When Dometius died, his elder son Probus became Bishop; then when Probus died, Dometius’ second son Metrophanes succeeded him. Metrophanes was enthroned around the time that Constantine the Great was establishing Byzantium as the new capital of the Roman Empire. He sent a delegate to the First Ecumenical Council in 325, since he was unable to attend due to age and infirmity. The Emperor Constantine loved Metrophanes as a father and urged the entire Council to visit the ailing Bishop. Ten days later he died.

Holy Myrrh-bearers Mary and Martha, sisters of St Lazarus (1st c.)

Mary and Martha, with their brother Lazarus, were especially devoted disciples of our Lord; their story up to the time of the Resurrection can be found in Luke 10 and John 11-12. Mary and Martha were among the Myrrh-bearing women. They, with their brother, reposed in Cyprus, where Lazarus became first Bishop of Kition after he was raised from death by Christ.

An ancient tradition holds that Lazarus was thirty years old when he was restored to life by the Lord, and that he lived another thirty years. After he was raised from the dead, he never again laughed; but once, when he saw someone stealing a clay pot, he smiled and said, ‘Clay stealing clay.’ His name is a Greek version of Eleazar, meaning ‘God has helped.’