The holy martyr Eusignius was a soldier under emperors Maximian, Constantine, and Constantine’s sons. Having spent sixty years in military service, he withdrew and went home to Antioch, where he lived a life of good works, prayer, and fasting. In the year 362, during the time of the emperor Julian the Apostate, he was arrested and beheaded.
Let us go forth to welcome the Transfiguration of Christ; let the faithful joyfully anticipate the feast and exclaim: the day of divine gladness has arrived; the Lord ascends Mount Tabor and the beauty of His divinity flashes like lightning.
Your martyr Eusignius, O Lord our God, in his struggle received an incorruptible crown from You. With Your strength, he brought down the tyrants and broke the cowardly valor of demons. Through his prayers, O Christ our God, save our souls.
Today all mortal nature radiates divinity at the divine Transfiguration and cries out with gladness: Christ is transfigured, saving all.
Let us praise Eusignius the martyr who conquered evil by the power of Christ. He clearly proclaimed his faith and was subjected to vicious torments. But he vanquished the harshness of the torturer and received a victor’s crown from God Himself.
2 Corinthians 5: 10-15
Brothers and sisters: The lives of all of us are to be revealed before the tribunal of Christ so that each one may receive his recompense, good or bad, according to his life in the body.
Standing in awe of the Lord we try to persuade men, but what we are is known to God. I hope that it is also known to you in your consciences. We shall not begin to recommend ourselves to you again, but we are giving you an opportunity to boast about us so that you may have something to say to those who take pride in external appearances, and not in what lies in the heart. Indeed, if we are ever caught up out of ourselves, God is the reason; and when we are brought back to our senses, it is for your sakes. The love of Christ impels us who have reached the conviction that since one died for all, all died. He died for all so that those who love might live no longer for themselves, but for him who for their sakes died and was raised up.
Mark 1: 9-15
At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. Immediately on coming up out of the water he saw the sky rent in two and the Spirit descending in him like a dove. Then a voice came from the heavens: “You are my beloved Son. On you my favor rests.”
At that point the Spirit sent him out toward the desert. He stayed in the wasteland forty days, put to the test there by Satan. He was with the wild beasts, and angels waited on him.
After John’s arrest, Jesus appeared in Galilee proclaiming the good news of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The reign of God is at hand! Reform your lives and believe in the gospel.”
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Sunday, August 4 –
