Acts 10.44-11.10 (Epistle)

44A dok još Petar govoraše ove rijeèi, siðe Duh sveti na sve koji slušahu rijeè. 45I udiviše se vjerni iz obrezanja koji bijahu došli s Petrom, videæi da se i na neznabošce izli dar Duha svetoga. 46Jer ih slušahu gdje govorahu jezike, i velièahu Boga. Tada odgovori Petar: 47Eda može ko vodu zabraniti da se ne krste oni koji primiše Duha svetoga kao i mi? 48I zapovjedi im da se krste u ime Isusa Hrista. Tada ga moliše da ostane kod njih nekoliko dana.

1A èuše i apostoli i braæa koji bijahu u Judeji da i neznabošci primiše rijeè Božiju. 2I kad iziðe Petar u Jerusalim, prepirahu se s njim koji bijahu iz obrezanja, 3Govoreæi: ušao si k ljudima koji nijesu obrezani, i jeo si s njima. 4A Petar poèevši kazivaše im redom govoreæi: 5Ja bijah u gradu Jopi na molitvi, i došavši izvan sebe vidjeh utvaru, gdje silazi sud nekakav kao veliko platno na èetiri roglja i spušta se s neba, i doðe do preda me. 6Pogledavši u nj opazih i vidjeh èetvoronožna zemaljska, i zvjerinje i bubine i ptice nebeske. 7A èuh glas koji mi govori: ustani, Petre! pokolji i pojedi. 8A ja rekoh: nipošto, Gospode! jer ništa pogano i neèisto nikad ne uðe u usta moja. 9A glas mi odgovori drugom s neba govoreæi: što je Bog oèistio ti ne pogani. 10A ovo bi triput; i uze se opet sve na nebo.

John 8.21-30 (Gospel)

21A Isus im opet reèe: ja idem, i tražiæete me; i pomrijeæete u svojemu grijehu; kud ja idem vi ne možete doæi. 22Tada rekoše Jevreji: da se neæe sam ubiti, što govori: kud ja idem vi ne možete doæi? 23I reèe im: vi ste od nižijeh, ja sam od višijeh; vi ste od ovoga svijeta, ja nijesam od ovoga svijeta. 24Tako vam kazah da æete pomrijeti u grijesima svojima; jer ako ne uzvjerujete da sam ja, pomrijeæete u grijesima svojima. 25Tada mu govorahu: ko si ti? I reèe im Isus: poèetak, kako vam i kažem. 26Mnogo imam za vas govoriti i suditi; ali onaj koji me posla istinit je, i ja ono govorim svijetu što èuh od njega. 27Ne razumješe dakle da im govoraše za oca. 28A Isus im reèe: kad podignete sina èovjeèijega, onda æete doznati da sam ja, i da ništa sam od sebe ne èinim; nego kako me nauèi otac moj onako govorim. 29I onaj koji me posla sa mnom je. Ne ostavi otac mene sama; jer ja svagda èinim što je njemu ugodno. 30Kad ovo govoraše, mnogi ga vjerovaše.

Apostles Jason and Sosipater

Both were disciples of the Apostle Paul, who mentions them in his Epistle to the Romans: “Jason and Sosipater my kinsmen greet you” (16:21). Jason was born in Tarsus of Cilicia (as was the Apostle Paul), and became bishop of that town. Sosipater was from Patras of Achaia (now Greece), and became bishop of Iconium. After serving their flocks for many years, these two travelled together to Corfu, where they were the first to preach the Gospel. They were furiously opposed by the ruler of that island, but when he died, the new king came to faith in Christ and was baptised with the name Sebastian. Jason and Sosipater remained on Corfu, freely preaching the Gospel and building up the Church until they reposed in great old age. An ancient church in the city of Corfu, dating from the first centuries, bears inscriptions that mention the Saints by name.

They are commemorated April 28 on the Slavic calendar.

St Basil, bishop of Ostrog in Montenegro (Serbia) (1671)

As a monk, he was known for his very severe asceticism. Against his will, he was made Bishop of Zahum, where he served his flock faithfully for many years, “keeping it from the cruelty of the Turks and the guile of the Latins” (Prologue). When his monastery was destroyed by the Turks he moved to Ostrog, where he reposed. His body has remained whole, incorrupt, healing and wonderworking to this day. Innumerable miracles have been worked at his grave; both Christians and Muslims seek out his relics for healing from sicknesses and sufferings.

(A story heard from a parishioner at St Basil of Ostrog Church in Illinois: while the Saint’s relics remain intact, reputedly his shoes wear out from time to time and need to be replaced.)