Galatians 2.6-10 (Epistle)

6A za one koji se brojahu da su nešto, kakovi bili da bili, ja ne marim ništa; jer Bog ne gleda ko je ko; jer oni koji se brojahu kao najstariji, meni ništa ne dodaše; 7Nego nasuprot doznavši da je meni povjereno jevanðelje u neobrezanima, kao Petru u obrezanima 8Jer onaj koji pomaže Petru u apostolstvu meðu obrezanima onaj pomaže i meni meðu neznabošcima 9I poznavši blagodat koja je meni dana, Jakov i Kifa i Jovan, koji se brojahu da su stubovi, dadoše desnice meni i Varnavi, i pristadoše da mi propovijedamo u neznabošcima, a oni u obrezanima; 10Samo da se opominjemo siromašnijeh, za koje sam se i starao tako èiniti.

Mark 5.22-24, 35-6.1 (Gospel)

22I gle, doðe jedan od starješina zbornièkijeh po imenu Jair; i vidjevši ga pade pred noge njegove. 23I moljaše ga vrlo govoreæi: kæi je moja na smrti; da doðeš i da metneš na nju ruke da ozdravi i živi. 24I poðe s njim; i za njim iðaše naroda mnogo i turkahu ga. 35Još on govoraše, a doðoše od starješine zbornièkoga govoreæi: kæi tvoja umrije; šta veæ trudiš uèitelja? 36A Isus odmah èuvši rijeè što rekoše reèe starješini: ne boj se, samo vjeruj. 37I ne dade za sobom iæi nikome osim Petra i Jakova i Jovana brata Jakovljeva. 38I doðe u kuæu starješine zbornièkoga, i vidje vrevu i plaè i jauk veliki. 39I ušavši reèe im: šta ste uzavreli te plaèete? Djevojka nije umrla, nego spava. 40I potsmijevahu mu se. A on istjeravši sve uze oca djevojèina i mater i koji bijahu s njim, i uðe gdje ležaše djevojka. 41I uzevši djevojku za ruku reèe joj: Talita kumi, koje znaèi: djevojko, tebi govorim, ustani. 42I odmah usta djevojka i hoðaše; a bješe od dvanaest godina. I zaèudiše se èudom velikijem. 43I zaprijeti im vrlo da niko ne dozna za to, i reèe: podajte joj nek jede.

1I iziðe odande, i doðe na svoju postojbinu; i za njim idoše uèenici njegovi.

Our Holy Mother Theodora of Alexandria (490)

While a young married woman, she committed adultery with another man. Seized by remorse, she fled her husband’s house, dressed herself as a man, renamed herself Theodore, and entered a men’s monastery, pretending to be a eunuch. “Theodore“‘s fasts, prayers, vigils and tears amazed “his” brethren. Her secret was only discovered after her death. She had spent nine full years devoting her life to repentance for one sin. During her life she showed herself to be a wonderworker, taming wild beasts and healing sicknesses. Her husband came to her funeral, then lived until his death in the cell of his former wife.

St Euphrosynos the Cook of Alexandria (9th c.)

His icon is found in countless Orthodox kitchens. A simple and holy man, when he entered monastic life in Alexandria he was judged unfit for any service more demanding than kitchen work. There he labored without complaint, looked down upon by most of the other monks. One night the abbot dreamed that he was in Paradise, and there met Euphrosynos, who gave him a branch that bore three fragrant apples. Awakening, the abbot found the same apples on his pillow. He hurried to find Euphrosynos and asked him, `Where were you last night, brother?’ Euphrosynos only replied, `Where were you, Father?’ The abbot gathered the monks and told them the wonderful story, by which they all realized the cook’s holiness. But Euphrosynos, unwilling to endure the praise of men, fled the monastery for the desert.

St Paphnutius the Confessor (4th c.)

“A bishop of the Egyptian Thebaid, he suffered greatly for the Orthodox faith: heretics put out one of his eyes and broke his left leg. He took part in the First Ecumenical Council, refuting the Arian heresy with great power. The Emperor Constantine valued him greatly and often kissed him on the missing eye, lost for the truth of Orthodoxy. At the council, he stood in opposition to the western representatives, who proposed that secular priests be completely forbidden to marry. He was chaste throughout the whole of his life.” (Prologue)

Canonization of St Xenia of St Petersburg (1978)

She is commemorated on January 24.