1 Corinthians 10.5-12 (Epistle)

5Ali mnogi od njih ne bijahu po Božijoj volji, jer biše pobijeni u pustinji. 6A ovo biše ugledi nama, da mi ne želimo zala, kao i oni što želješe. 7Niti bivajte idolopoklonici, kao neki od njih, kao što stoji napisano: sjedoše ljudi da jedu i da piju, i ustaše da igraju. 8Niti da se kurvamo, kao neki od njih što se kurvaše, i pade ih u jedan dan dvadeset i tri hiljade. 9Niti da kušamo Hrista, kao što neki od njih kušaše, i od zmija izgiboše. 10Niti da vièemo na Boga, kao neki od njih što vikaše, i izgiboše od krvnika. 11Ovo se pak sve dogaðaše ugledi njima, a napisa se za nauku nama, na koje pošljedak svijeta doðe. 12Jer koji misli da stoji neka se èuva da ne padne.

Matthew 16.6-12 (Gospel)

6A Isus reèe im: èuvajte se kvasca farisejskoga i sadukejskog. 7A oni mišljahu u sebi govoreæi: to je što nijesmo hljeba uzeli. 8A Isus razumjevši reèe im: šta mislite u sebi, malovjerni, što hljeba nijeste uzeli? 9Zar još ne razumijete niti pamtite pet hljebova na pet hiljada, i koliko kotarica nakupiste? 10Ni sedam hljebova na èetiri hiljade, i koliko kotarica nakupiste? 11Kako ne razumijete da vam ne rekoh za hljebove da se èuvate kvasca farisejskoga i sadukejskog? 12Tada razumješe da ne reèe kvasca hljebnoga da se èuvaju, nego nauke farisejske i sadukejske.

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.