Romans 2.28-3.18 (Epistle)

28Jer ono nije Jevrejin koji je spolja Jevrejin, niti je ono obrezanje koje je spolja na tijelu; 29Nego je ono Jevrejin koji je iznutra, i obrezanje srca duhom a ne slovima, to je obrezanje; kome je hvala ne od ljudi nego od Boga.

1Šta je dakle bolji Jevrejin od drugijeh ljudi? Ili šta pomaže obrezanje? 2Mnogo svakojako; prvo što su im povjerene rijeèi Božije. 3A što neki ne vjerovaše, šta je za to? Eda æe njihovo nevjerstvo vjeru Božiju ukinuti? 4Bože saèuvaj! nego Bog neka bude istinit, a èovjek svaki laža, kao što stoji napisano: da se opravdaš u svojijem rijeèima, i da pobijediš kad ti stanu suditi. 5Ako li nepravda naša Božiju pravdu podiže, šta æemo reæi? Eda li je Bog nepravedan kad se srdi? Po èovjeku govorim: 6Bože saèuvaj! Jer kako bi mogao Bog suditi svijetu? 7Jer ako istina Božija u mojoj laži veæa postane na slavu njegovu, zašto još i ja kao grješnik da budem osuðen? 8Zašto dakle kao što vièu na nas, i kao što kažu neki da mi govorimo) da ne èinimo zla da doðe dobro? Njima æe sud biti pravedan. 9Šta dakle? Jesmo li bolji od njih? Nipošto! Jer gore dokazasmo da su i Jevreji i Grci svi pod grijehom, 10Kao što stoji napisano: ni jednoga nema pravedna; 11Ni jednoga nema razumna, i ni jednoga koji traži Boga; 12Svi se ukloniše i zajedno nevaljali postaše: nema ga koji èini dobro, nema ni jednoga ciglog. 13Njihovo je grlo grob otvoren, jezicima svojima varaju, i jed je aspidin pod usnama njihovima. 14Njihova su usta puna kletve i grèine. 15Njihove su noge brze da proljevaju krv. 16Na putovima je njihovima raskopavanje i nevolja; 17I puta mirnoga ne poznaše. 18Nema straha Božijega pred oèima njihovima.

Matthew 6.31-34, 7.9-11 (Gospel)

31Ne brinite se dakle govoreæi: šta æemo jesti, ili, šta æemo piti, ili, èim æemo se odjenuti? 32Jer sve ovo neznabošci ištu; a zna i otac vaš nebeski da vama treba sve ovo. 33Nego ištite najprije carstva Božijega, i pravde njegove, i ovo æe vam se sve dodati. 34Ne brinite se dakle za sjutra; jer sjutra brinuæe se za se. Dosta je svakom danu zla svoga. 9Ili koji je meðu vama èovjek u koga ako zaište sin njegov hljeba kamen da mu da? 10Ili ako ribe zaište da mu da zmiju? 11Kad dakle vi, zli buduæi, umijete dare dobre davati djeci svojoj, koliko æe više otac vaš nebeski dati dobra onima koji ga mole?

Holy Prophet Amos (8th c. BC)

He was an unlearned shepherd from the village of Tekoa in Zabulon, near Bethlehem. His prophecies, made during the reign of King Uzziah, make up the Old Testament book which bears his name. He is ranked third among the “minor prophets” of the Old Testament.

Holy Martyr Vitus, with Modestus and Crescentia (303)

“St Vitus was born in Sicily of eminent pagan parents. Modestus was his tutor and Crescentia his governess. St Vitus was baptised early and, when only twelve years old, began to live an intensive ascetic life. Angels appeared to him, instructing him and encouraging him in his labours, and he was himself as radiant and handsome as an angel of God. A judge who beat him had the flesh of his arm wither away, but Vitus healed it by his prayers. His father was blinded when he saw twelve angels in his room ‘with eyes like stars and faces like lightning’, but Vitus restored his sight by his prayers. When his father sought to kill him, an angel appeared to him and took him to Lucania on the bank of the river Silaris, together with Modestus and Crescentia. St Vitus performed many miracles there for the sick and insane. He went to Rome at the summons of the Emperor Diocletian and drove out an evil spirit from his son. Far from rewarding him, the Emperor tortured him cruelly when he would not bow down before mute idols, but the Lord delivered him from torture and returned him to Lucania by His invisible arm, and there he and Modestus and Crescentia entered into rest in the Lord. St Vitus’ relics are preserved in Prague.” (Prologue)

In the West, St Vitus’ aid is often invoked for the cure of many ailments, especially insanity and demonic possession. For this reason his name is given to St Vitus’ dance, an acute neurological illness that produces uncontrollable movements in the face and limbs, usually occurring in children.

Blessed Augustine, bishop of Hippo (430), and his mother Monica (387)

After seeking truth among many religious schools, including the Manicheans, Augustine was turned to faith in Christ through the cousel and fervent prayers of his mother St Monica. The story of his early life and conversion is beautifully told in his Confessions. He lived for seventy-six years, the last thirty-five as bishop of Hippo in north Africa. He died in a barbarian attack on that city.

In recent years, a few Orthodox writers have tried to deny that Augustine is a Saint of the Orthodox church (mostly due to some theological errors in his writings which have been unduly promoted in the Latin church). These claims are false: from the time of his canonization, he has been commemorated as a Saint.

Holy Martyr Lazar, Prince of Serbia (1389)

“He was one of the greatest men of Serbia who ruled the kingdom after king Dušan. Upon the death of King Uroš, Lazar was crowned King of Serbia by Patriarch Ephraim. He sent a delegation to Constantinople, including a monk called Isaiah, to plead for the removing of the anathema from the Serbian people. He went to war on several occasions against the Turkish Pasha, finally clashing with the Turkish king, Amurât, at Kosovo on June 15, 1389, being slain there. His body was taken to Ravanica near Cupria, a foundation of his, and buried there, but was later taken to New Ravanica in Srem. During the Second World War, in 1942, it was taken to Belgrade and placed in the Cathedral, where it is preserved to this day and offers comfort and healing to all who turn to him in prayer. He restored Hilandar and Gornjak, built Ravanica and the Lazarica in Kruševac and was the founder of St Panteleimon, the Russian monastery on the Holy Mountain, as well as numerous other churches and monasteries.” (Prologue)