1 John 2.7-17 (Epistle)

7Ljubazni! ne pišem vam nove zapovijesti, nego zapovijest staru koju imaste ispoèetka. Zapovijest stara jest rijeè koju èuste ispoèetka. 8Opet vam pišem novu zapovijest, koja je zaista u njemu i u vama; jer tama prolazi, i vidjelo pravo veæ svijetli. 9Koji govori da je u vidjelu, a mrzi na svojega brata, još je u tami. 10Koji ljubi brata svojega, u vidjelu živi, i sablazni u njemu nema. 11A koji mrzi na svojega brata, u tami je, i u tami hodi, i ne zna kuda ide, jer mu tama zaslijepi oèi. 12Pišem vam, djeèice, da vam se opraštaju grijesi imena njegova radi. 13Pišem vam, oci, jer poznaste onoga koji nema poèetka. Pišem vam, mladiæi, jer nadvladaste neèastivoga. Pišem vam, djeco, jer poznaste oca. 14Pisah vam, oci, jer poznaste onoga koji je od poèetka. Pisah vam, mladiæi, jer ste jaki, i rijeè Božija u vama stoji, i nadvladaste neèastivoga. 15Ne ljubite svijeta ni što je na svijetu. Ako ko ljubi svijet, nema ljubavi oèine u njemu. 16Jer sve što je na svijetu, tjelesna želja, i želja oèiju, i ponos života, nije od oca, nego je od ovoga svijeta. 17I svijet prolazi i želja njegova; a koji tvori volju Božiju ostaje dovijeka.

Mark 14.3-9 (Gospel)

3I kad bijaše on u Vitaniji u kuæi Simona gubavoga i sjeðaše za trpezom, doðe žena sa sklenicom mnogocjenoga mira èistoga nardova, i razbivši sklenicu ljevaše mu na glavu. 4A neki se srðahu govoreæi: zašto se to miro prosipa tako? 5Jer se mogaše za nj uzeti više od trista groša i dati siromasima. I vikahu na nju. 6A Isus reèe: ostavite je; šta joj smetate? ona uèini dobro djelo na meni. 7Jer siromahe imate svagda sa sobom, i kad god hoæete možete im dobro èiniti; a mene nemate svagda. 8Ona što može, uèini: ona pomaza naprijed tijelo moje za ukop. 9Zaista vam kažem: gdje se god uspropovijeda jevanðelje ovo po svemu svijetu, kazaæe se i to za spomen njezin.

Translation of the relics of St Ignatius of Antioch (107)

For his life, see December 20.

After his martyrdom, devoured by wild beasts in the amphitheater in Rome, only a few bones remained. These precious relics were gathered by the faithful, who took them back to Antioch, where they were received with joy by his former flock.

St Andrei Rublev, iconographer (1430)

Many consider him the greatest iconographer of all time, and his “Holy Trinity” the finest icon. Very little is known of his life. He was born around 1360, and probably studied with the Byzantine iconographer Theophanes the Greek. He is known to have created icons for the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Moscow and the Cathedral of the Dormition at Vladimir. He created a highly spiritual and distinctively Russian iconographic style that set the standard for Russian iconography for centuries thereafter. It is said that he knew St Sergius of Radonezh (July 5). In his later years he became a monk.

Our Holy Father Aphrahat the Persian (4th c.)

He was from the pagan Persian aristocracy, but came to faith in Christ and left his home for the Christian city of Edessa, where he was baptized. He later moved to Antioch, where he lived in prayer and asceticism a short distance from the city. He ate nothing but a small amount of bread until he was extremely old, when he added some greens to his diet. Though he knew very little Greek, he was empowered by the Holy Spirit to win many converts to Christ and to confound the learned Arian heretics who were disturbing the Church in Antioch.

When Aphrahat learned that the Arian Emperor Valens was persecuting Christ’s Church, he moved to the city to support the true Faith. One day the Emperor himself met Aphrahat in the city square and asked him why he had left his solitude and come to Antioch. The Saint answered ‘Tell me this: if I were a maiden at home in my secluded apartment and saw someone setting fire to my father’s house, would you not advise me to put out the blaze as soon as possible? That is what I am doing now, because the Church, the heavenly Father’s house, is burning down in the fire that you have set!’ One of the Emperor’s attendants threatened Aphrahat with death for this impertinence; but the attendant himself later perished, drowned as he was heating water for the Emperor’s bath. This made the Emperor afraid to persecute the holy one, who continued to preach the true Faith and to perform many miracles. He reposed in peace.

Repose of Blessed Father Dimitrios Gagastathis (1975)

Though not yet officially a Saint of the Church, Papa Dimitrios is widely revered in Greece and abroad. His life is an inspiring example of the possibility of great holiness for those living in the world: a simple married parish priest, he spent forty-two years serving his childhood parish, and had nine daughters. He was a spiritual child of Elder Amphilochios of Patmos, and in turn became a spiritual father to many. His biography describes his last years thus: “On October 1, 1973, he resigned for reasons of health. Since then, he remained confined at home, living as a saint with incessant prayer, glorifying and thanking God for the trial of his illness. He delivered his holy soul to the hands of the living God on January 29, 1975, in peace.”

For more on Papa-dimitri, read this biographical sketch.