Ven. Pelagia the Penitent; Saint Thaïs the Repentant Harlot (4th c.); Phillip, Bishop of Gortyna

with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints. ¹⁹Pray for me, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News, ²⁰for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

²¹But that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you all things. ²²I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know our state and that he may comfort your hearts.

²³Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.

“To what then should I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? ³²They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, saying, ‘We piped to you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned, and you didn’t weep.’ ³³For John the Baptizer came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ ³⁴The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ ³⁵Wisdom is justified by all her children.”