2024

On Wednesday | September 4

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Wednesday of the 11th Week

The reading is from Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians.

2 Cor. 3:4 – 11

Brethren, such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Now if the dispensation of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not look at Moses’ face because of its glory, fading as this was, will not the dispensation of the Spirit be attended with greater glory? For if there was glory in the dispensation of condemnation, the dispensation of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what faded away came with glory, what is permanent must have much more glory. [RSV]

The Gospel

Wednesday of the 11th Week of Matthew

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 23:29 – 39

The Lord said to the Jews who had come to him, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ Thus you witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zacharias the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly, I say to you, all this will come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” [RSV]

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The Readings for the Commemoration

The Epistle

For the Hieromartyr.

The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews.

Heb. 11:33 – 40; 12:1 – 2

Brethren, all the saints through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated — of whom the world was not worthy — wandering over deserts and mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin that easily distracts, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of faith. [RSV]

The Gospel

For the Hieromartyr.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 10:32 – 36; 11:1

The Lord said to his disciples, “Every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s foes will be those of his own household.” And when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On the September 4, we commemorate the holy Hieromartyr Babylus, Bishop of Greater Antioch, and three holy children with him, who died by the sword.

On this day St. Babylus, a teacher in Antioch, and his 84 young pupils died by the sword.

The holy Prophet Moses reposed in peace.

On this day we commemorate St. Hermione, one of the daughters of Philip the Apostle.

Saints Theotimus and Theodoulus, the executioners who believed, died by fire.

On this day we commemorate the holy martyrs Centurion, Theodore, Amianus and Julian, from the town of Candaule.

On this day we commemorate the holy martyrs Petronius, Charitina, Zarvilus, Thathuil and Vevaia.

On this day we commemorate the holy 3,628 martyrs.

By the intercession of Your Saints, O God, have mercy on us. Amen.

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Fasting Rule

Strict: Refrain from meat, fish, oil, dairy, and eggs.

It is a Wednesday or Friday.