The holy martyr Juliana was born to pagan parents, and was converted to the Faith at a young age. She refused to marry the man chosen for her by her parents because he was not a Christian. She was arrested, beaten, and then beheaded. With her many others were martyred  who saw her witness and were converted by it in the year 304.

Troparion

Your lamb Juliana, O Jesus, cries out in a loud voice: I love You,  my Bridegroom; I seek You with painful longing; I am crucified with You; in Your baptism, I am buried with You; I suffer for You that I may reign with You; and I die for You that I may live with You. Receive me as a spotless sacrifice immolated with love for You. By her prayers, O merciful One, save our souls.

Kontakion

O virgin, made most pure with the goodness of virginity, and now, having been crowned with the martyr’s crown, you grant healing and salvation to those in need who approach your shrine for Christ pours forth divine grace and eternal life. 

Epistle

Hebrews 5:11 – 6:8

Brothers and sisters: About the priesthood we have much to say, and it is difficult to explain, for you have become deaf. Although by this time you should be teaching others, you need to have someone teach you again the basic elements of the oracles of God; you need milk, not solid food. Everyone whose food is milk alone is ignorant of the word that sanctifies, for he is a child. Solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties are trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.

Let us, then, go beyond the initial teaching about Christ and advance to maturity, not laying the foundation all over again: repentance from dead works, faith in God, instruction about baptisms and laying-on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And, God permitting, we shall advance!

For when men have once been enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift and become sharers in the Holy Spirit, when they have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to make them repent again, since they are crucifying the Son of God for themselves and holding him up to contempt. Ground which drinks in the rain falling on it again and again, and brings forth vegetation useful to those whom it is cultivated, receives the blessing of God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless; it is soon cursed, and finally burned. 

Gospel

Mark 8: 30-34

At that time Jesus gave the disciples strict orders not to tell anyone about him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man had to suffer much, be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, but put to death, and ride three days later. He said these things quite openly. Peter then took Jesus aside to remonstrate him. At this Jesus turned around and, eyeing the disciple, reprimanded Peter. “Get out of my sight, you satan! You are not judging by God’s standards but by man’s!” Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them: “If a man wishes to come after me, he must deny his very self, take up his cross, and follow in my steps.” 

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

The holy martyr Ignatius the God-bearer was a bishop and a disciple of St. John the Apostle. He ruled the Church of Antioch second after St. Peter. He was condemned to the beasts under the Emperor Trajan, and was sent to Rome and there he was crowned in martyrdom in the year 107. On his trip, while under guard and experiencing their ferocity as if of leopards, he wrote seven letters to various Churches, by which he beseeched his brothers to serve God in unity with the bishops and not to keep him from being sacrificed as a victim for Christ.

Troparion

You followed the apostles’ way of life and succeeded to their throne, you ascended to the vision of contemplation through your deeds, O God-bearer, facing savage beasts, fire, and sword for the sake of the Word of truth, and made the course of truth straight even at the price of your own blood. O priest-martyr Ignatius, pray to Christ God for the salvation of our souls. 

Kontakion

The light-bearing day of your radiant ascetic fight proclaims beforehand to all the One who was born in a cave. For thirsting lovingly to delight in Him, you hastened to be devoured by wild beasts. For this you were called God-bearer, O All-Wise Ignatius. 

Epistle

Hebrews 4: 1-13

Brothers and sisters: While the promise of entrance into [God’s] rest still holds, we ought to be fearful of disobeying lest anyone of you be judged to have lost his chase of entering. We have indeed heard the good news, as they did. But the word which they heard did not profit them, for they did not receive it in faith. It is we who have believed who enter into that rest, just as God said: “Thus I swore in my anger, ‘They shall never enter into my rest.’” Yet God’s work was finished when he created the world, for in reference to the seventh day Scripture somewhere says, “And God rested from all his work on the seventh day”; and again, in the place we have referred to, God says, “They shall never enter into my rest.” Therefore, since it remains for some to enter, and those to whom it was first announced did not because of unbelief, God once more set a day, “today,” when long afterward he spoke through David the words we have quoted: “Today, if you should hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Now if Joshua had led them into the palace of rest, God would not have spoken afterward of another day. Therefore a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God. And he who enters into God’s rest, rests from his own work as God did from his. Let us strive to enter into that rest, so that no one may fall, in imitation of the example of Israel’s unbelief.

Indeed, God’s word is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates and divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the reflections and thoughts of the heart. Nothing is concealed from him; all lies bare and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account. 

Gospel

Mark 11: 11-24

At that time Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple precincts. He inspected everything there, but since it was already late in the afternoon, he went out to Bethany accompanied by the Twelve. The next day when they were leaving Bethany he felt hungry. Observing a fig tree some distance off, covered with foliage, he went over to see if he could find anything on it. When he reached it he found nothing but leaves; it was not the time for figs. Then addressing it he said, “Never again shall anyone eat of your fruit!” His disciples heard all this. 

When they reached Jerusalem he entered the temple precincts and began to drive out those who were engaged in buying and selling. He overturned the money-changers’ tables and the stall of the men selling doves; moreover, he would not permit anyone to carry things through the temple area. 

Then he began to teach them: “Does not Scripture have it, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples’? But you have turned it into a den of thieves.” The chief priests and the scribes heard of this and began to look for a way to destroy him. They were at the same time afraid of him because the whole crowd was under the spell of his teaching. When evening drew on, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city. Early next morning, as they were walking along, they saw the fig tree withered to its roots. Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered up.” In reply Jesus told them: “Put your trust in God. I solemnly assure you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no inner doubts but believes that what he says will happen, shall have it done for him. I give you my word, if you are ready to believe that you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer, it shall be done for you.”

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

The holy martyr Boniface was a servant to a wealthy and wicked woman in Rome, and was her paramour. His mistress decided that she wanted to have some relics of a Christian martyr in her house to use as an amulet to ward off evil, and dispatched Boniface to buy what she desired. In the city of Tarsus, Boniface witnessed the death of many for the sake of Christ, and was converted. He denounced himself to the authorities and said, “I too am a Christian.” He was then tortured and beheaded. Slaves took his body back to Rome, and an angel appeared to his former mistress, saying, “Take him who was once your servant, but who is now our brother—he is the guardian of your soul.” She repented and built a church where Boniface’s relics were buried. (290)

Troparion

Your martyr Boniface, 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.

Kontakion

O crown-bearer and most wise Boniface, you offered yourself as a willing, immaculate sacrifice to the One Who was born of a Virgin for our sake. 

Epistle

Hebrews 3: 5-11, 17-19

Brothers and sisters: Moses “was faithful in God’s household” as a servant charged with the task of witnessing to what would be spoken; but Christ was faithful as the Son placed over God’s house. It is we who are that house, if we hold fast to our confidence, and the hope of which we boast.

Wherefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you should hear his voice, harden, not your hearts, as at the revolt in the day of testing in the desert, when your father’s tested and tried me, and saw my works for forty years. Because of this I was angered with that generation, and I said, ‘They have always been of caring heart, and have never known my ways.’ Thus I swore in my anger, ‘They shall never enter into my rest.’”

With whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not those who had sent, whose corpses fell in the desert? To whom but to the disobedient did he swear that they would not enter into his rest? We see, moreover, that it was their unbelief that kept them from entering.

Gospel

Mark 10: 46-52

At that time Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, there was a blind beggar Bartimaeus sitting by the roadside. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to call out, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” Many people were scolding him to make him keep quiet, but he shouted all the louder, “Son of David, have pity on me!” Then Jesus stopped and said, “Call him over.” So they called the blind man over, telling him as they did so, “You have nothing to fear from him! Get up! He is calling you!” He threw aside his cloak, jumped up and came to Jesus. Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Rabboni,” the blind man said, “I want to see.” Jesus said in reply, “Be on your way! Your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and started to follow Jesus up the road. 

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com

The holy martyr Eleutherius was born of noble and eminent parents in Rome. Eleutherius was the fruit of the people who heard the Gospel from the apostles. He became bishop of Illyria, and was a model shepherd. He was arrested and martyred by the emperor Hadrian in the year 120.

Our venerable father Paul of Latra lived the ascetic life on a mountain called Lastos in Asia Minor. He worked many miracles, and our Lord took him in his old age in the year 950. 

Our holy father Stephen, bishop of Surozh was born in Cappadocia and educated by St. Germanus the Patriarch. He was taken from his hermitage and made bishop of Surozh (now Sudak in the Crimea.). Stephen suffered a great deal from the emperor Leo the Armenian. After the emperor’s demise, Stephen was returned to his flock, which he governed with grace and truth during the late 8th century. 

Troparion – Eleutherius

You shared in the apostles’ way of life and succeeded to their throne, divinely inspired bishop. You found access to contemplation in the active life. Therefore, you rightly taught the word of truth and struggled for the faith to the shedding of your blood. O Priest-Martyr Eleutherius, pray to Christ our God to save our souls. 

Troparion – Paul

 You were numbered among the monks and a companion of angels, and so we raise this song to you, O glorious Paul. Pray that we may find mercy for our souls. 

Kontakion – Eleutherius

As an inspiration to priests, venerable father, and as one who reenacted the Passion, we come with petitions and praise to you. O Priest-Martyr Eleutherius: deliver us from trouble of any kind. As we approach with love to keep your memory, pray without ceasing for all of us. 

Kontakion – Paul

You acted maturely from your childhood and spurned the goods of the world. You became a temple of the Trinity in your quest for the divine life. You enlighten those who come to you. And so we sing: Rejoice, generous father Paul. 

Epistle

Titus 1: 5-14

Titus, my son: My purpose in leaving you in Crete was that you might accomplish what had been left undone, especially the appointment of presbyters in every town. As I instructed you, a presbyter must be irreproachable, married only once, the father of children who are believers and are known not to be wild and insubordinate. The bishop as God’s steward must be blameless. He may not be self-willed or arrogant, a drunkard, a violent or greedy man. He should, on the contrary, be hospitable and a lover of goodness; steady, just, holy, and self-controlled. In his teaching he must hold fast to the authentic message, so that he will be able both to encourage men to follow sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it. There are many irresponsible teachers, especially those among the Jewish converts – men who are simply talkers and deceivers. These must be silence. They are upsetting whole families by teaching things they have no right to teach – and all for sordid gain! A man of Crete, one of their own prophets, has testified, “Cretans have ever been liars, beasts, and lazy gluttons,” and that is the simple truth!

Admonish them sharply, in an attempt to keep them close to sound faith, and unaffected by Jewish myths or rules invented by men who have swerved from the truth. 

Gospel

Mark 7: 24-30

From that place Jesus went off to the territory of Tyre and Sidon. He retired to a certain house and wanted no one to recognize him; however, he could not escape notice. Soon a woman, whose small daughter had an unclean spirit, heard about him. She approached him and crouched at his feet. The woman who was Greek–a Syro-Phoenician by birth–began to beg him to expel the demon from her daughter. He told her: “Let the sons of the household satisfy themselves at table first. It is not right to take food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” “Please, Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the family’s leavings.” Then he said to her, “For such a reply, be off now! The demon has already left your daughter.” When she got home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone. 

Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com