Martyrs Platon and Roman; Holy Martyr Romanus and the holy child who declared for Christ (305); Holy New Martyr Anastasius of Epirus (1750), and Daniel, whom he converted

For I desire to have you know how greatly I struggle for you and for those at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; ²that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and gaining all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, ³in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. ⁴Now I say this that no one may delude you with persuasiveness of speech. ⁵For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, rejoicing and seeing your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

⁶As therefore you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, ⁷rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, even as you were taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.

He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

¹⁶“The law and the prophets were until John. From that time the Good News of God’s Kingdom is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. ¹⁷But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tiny stroke of a pen in the law to fall.

¹⁸“Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery. He who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.

¹He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come! ²It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble. ³Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him. ⁴If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.”