Romans 11.2-12 (Epistle)

2Ne odbaci Bog naroda svojega, koji naprijed pozna. Ili ne znate šta govori pismo za Iliju kako se tuži Bogu na Izrailja govoreæi: 3Gospode! proroke tvoje pobiše i oltare tvoje raskopaše, a ja ostah jedan i traže dušu moju da je izvade. 4A šta mu govori Božij odgovor? Ostavih sebi sedam hiljada ljudi koji ne prekloniše koljena pred Vaalom. 5Tako dakle i u sadašnje vrijeme ostatak bi po izboru blagodati. 6Ako li je po blagodati, onda nije od djela, jer blagodat veæ ne bi bila blagodat; ako li je od djela nije više blagodat, jer djelo veæ ne bi bilo djelo. 7Šta dakle? Šta iskaše Izrailj ono ne dobi; a izbor dobi; ostali pak zaslijepiše. 8Kao što je napisano: dade im Bog duha neosjetljivoga, oèi da ne vide, i uši da ne èuju do samoga današnjega dana. 9I David govori: da bude trpeza njihova zamka i gvožða, i sablazan i plata njima; 10Da se njihove oèi zaslijepe da ne vide, i leða njihova jednako da su pognuta. 11Govorim dakle: eda li se spotakoše da padnu? Bože saèuvaj! Nego je njihova pogrješka spasenje neznabošcima, da bi se i oni razdražili. 12A kad je pogrješka njihova bogatstvo svijetu i šteta njihova bogatstvo neznabošcima, akamoli da se ispune?

Matthew 11.20-26 (Gospel)

20Tada poèe Isus vikati na gradove u kojima su se dogodila najveæa èudesa njegova, pa se nijesu pokajali: 21Teško tebi, Horazine! Teško tebi, Vitsaido! Jer da su u Tiru i Sidonu bila èudesa koja su bila u vama, davno bi se u vreæi i pepelu pokajali. 22Ali vam kažem: Tiru i Sidonu lakše æe biti u dan strašnoga suda nego vama. 23I ti, Kapernaume! koji si se do nebesa podigao do pakla æeš propasti: jer da su u Sodomu bila èudesa što su u tebi bila, ostao bi do današnjeg dana. 24Ali vam kažem da æe zemlji Sodomskoj lakše biti u dan strašnoga suda nego tebi. 25U to vrijeme odgovori Isus, i reèe: hvalim te, oèe, Gospode neba i zemlje, što si ovo sakrio od premudrijeh i razumnijeh a kazao si prostima. 26Da, oèe, jer je tako bila volja tvoja.

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)