Project BLACK MAMBA

'Tis the Memorial of Saints Cyril, Monk, & Methodius, Bishop (circa 827-869 & circa 815-885), co-patrons of Europe: Saints-link, Saint-link Charlie, Saint-link Mike, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

They were two brothers who were Byzantine Christian theologians & Christian missionaries. Through their work they influenced the cultural development of all Slavs, for which they received the title "Apostles to the Slavs." They are credited with devising the Glagolitic alphabet, the first alphabet used to transcribe Old Church Slavonic.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

Because their father was an officer in a part of Greece inhabited by many Slavs, these two Greek brothers ultimately became missionaries, teachers, & patronsof the Slavic peoples. A decisive change in their lives occurred when the Duke of Moravia asked the eastern Emperor Michael (III) for political independence from German rule & ecclesiastical autonomy (having their own clergy & liturgy). Cyril & Methodius undertook the missionary task. Cyril's first work was to invent an alphabet, still used in some Eastern liturgies. His followers probably formed the Cyrillic alphabet. Together they translated the Gospels, the Psalter, Paul's letters, & the liturgical books into Slavonic, & composed a Slavonic liturgy, highly irregular then.

'Tis also the feast of Saint Valentine of Rome, Bishop & Martyr (died circa 273, A.K.A of Terni), martyred in the reign of the emperor Aurelian: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the feast of Saint Abraham of Cyrrhus, Bishop (died circa 422, A.K.A. of Harran, of Charres): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the feast of Saint Auxentius of Bithynia, Hermit (circa 400-473): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
Weekday
The Book of Genesis, chapter six, verses five thru eight & chapter seven, verses one thru five & ten;
Psalm Twenty-nine, verses one(a), two, three, four, & nine(c) thru ten;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter eight, verses fourteen thru twenty-one;

or, for Ss. Cyril & Methodius:
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter thirteen, verses forty-six thru forty-nine;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter sixteen, verse fifteen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter ten, verses one thru nine.

Individual Reading
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter three (verses one thru nineteen);
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter four (verses one thru sixteen);
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter five, verses one thru ten.

Commentary: III. Jesus, Faithful & Compassionate High Priest: Jesus, Superior to Moses (3:1-6); Israel's Infidelity a Warning (3:7-19); the Sabbath Rest (4:1-13); & Jesus, Compassionate High Priest (4:14-5:10).