1 Corinthians 10.5-12 (Epistle)

5Totuşi cei mai mulţi dintre ei n-au fost plăcuţi lui Dumnezeu, căci au pierit în pustiu. 6Şi aceste lucruri s-au întâmplat ca să ne slujească nouă drept pilde, pentru ca să nu poftim după lucruri rele, cum au poftit ei. 7Să nu fiţi închinători la idoli, ca unii dintre ei, după cum este scris: „Poporul a şezut să mănânce şi să bea; şi s-au sculat să joace.” 8Să nu curvim, cum au făcut unii din ei, aşa că într-o singură zi au căzut douăzeci şi trei de mii. 9Să nu ispitim pe Domnul, cum L-au ispitit unii din ei, care au pierit prin şerpi. 10Să nu cârtiţi, cum au cârtit unii din ei, care au fost nimiciţi de nimicitorul. 11Aceste lucruri li s-au întâmplat ca să ne slujească drept pilde şi au fost scrise pentru învăţătura noastră, peste care au venit sfârşiturile veacurilor. 12Astfel, dar, cine crede că stă în picioare să ia seama să nu cadă.

Matthew 16.6-12 (Gospel)

6Isus le-a zis: „Luaţi seama şi păziţi-vă de aluatul fariseilor şi al saducheilor.” 7Ucenicii se gândeau în ei şi ziceau: „Ne zice aşa pentru că n-am luat pâini!” 8Isus, care cunoştea lucrul acesta, le-a zis: „Puţin credincioşilor, pentru ce vă gândiţi că n-aţi luat pâini? 9Tot nu înţelegeţi? Şi nici nu vă mai aduceţi aminte de cele cinci pâini pentru cei cinci mii de oameni şi câte coşuri aţi ridicat? 10Nici de cele şapte pâini pentru cei patru mii de oameni şi câte coşniţe aţi ridicat? 11Cum nu înţelegeţi că nu v-am spus de pâini; ci v-am spus să vă păziţi de aluatul fariseilor şi al saducheilor?” 12Atunci au înţeles ei că nu le zisese să se păzească de aluatul pâinii, ci de învăţătura fariseilor şi a saducheilor.

Holy Martyrs Proclus and Hilarius (2nd c.)

Proclus was the uncle of Hilarius; both were from Kallippi in Asia during the reign of Trajan. When Proclus was brought to be tried as a Christian, the judge asked him ‘Of what race are you?’ Proclus answered ‘I am of the race of Christ, and my hope is in my God.’ When the judge threatened to torture him, he said ‘When you are afraid to transgress the Emperor’s commands and risk falling into temporal punishment, how much more do we Christians fear to transgress against God’s commands and fall into eternal torment!’ When Proclus was given over to torture, his nephew Hilarius came forward and proclaimed ‘I too am a Christian.’ After torture, both were condemned to death; Proclus was crucified and Hilarius beheaded.

Imagine how the Orthodox Church would benefit if, when we were asked ‘Of what race are you?’ the first answer that came to mind was not ‘I am Greek, Russian, Serbian…’ but ‘I am of the race of Christ!’

St Veronica, the woman with the issue of blood who was healed by the Savior

See Matthew ch. 9, Mark ch. 5, and Luke ch. 8. After the events told in the Gospel, she spent the remainder of her life as a follower of Christ and reposed in peace.

Saint Païsios of the Holy Mountain (1994) (June 29 OC)

‘The future Elder Paisius was born in 1924 and baptized by St. Arsenius of Cappadocia. He spent his youth as a carpenter until WW II, during which he repeatedly distinguished himself in the army by his bravery and self-sacrifice. In 1950 he went to Mt. Athos for eight years, where he was tonsured. Then he was asked to spend some time in his home village of Epirus, in order to defend the faithful against Protestant proselytism. He returned to Mt. Athos in 1964 and stayed in several monasteries, eventually settling in the Panagouda hermitage of Koutloumousiou Monastery, where he remained for fifteen years. Here his reputation as a holy elder and guide grew, and he tirelessly received those thirsting for spiritual direction, allowing himself only two or three hours of sleep each day. He reposed in 1994, one of the most well-known and beloved contemporary elders. Many of his counsels and other writings have been published.’ (St Herman Calendar, 1994)

Elder Païsios was glorified by the Church in 2015; he is commemorated on the anniversary of his repose.