Forefeast of the Conception by St Anna of the Theotokos

I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you— ⁶if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behavior. ⁷For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward, not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain; ⁸but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober minded, fair, holy, self-controlled, ⁹holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him.

¹⁰For there are also many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹whose mouths must be stopped: men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain’s sake. ¹²One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons.” ¹³This testimony is true. For this cause, reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, ¹⁴not paying attention to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

But when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”

²⁹He told them a parable. “See the fig tree and all the trees. ³⁰When they are already budding, you see it and know by your own selves that the summer is already near. ³¹Even so you also, when you see these things happening, know that God’s Kingdom is near. ³²Most certainly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things are accomplished. ³³Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away.