2025

On Wednesday | May 7

__________

The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Wednesday of the 3rd Week

The reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts 8:18 – 25

In those days, when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me also this power, that any one on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “Your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.” Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans. [RSV]

The Gospel

Wednesday of the 3rd Week

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to John.

Jn. 6:35 – 39

The Lord said to the Jews who believed in him, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will not cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me; and this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up at the last day.” [RSV]

__________

The Readings for the Commemoration

The Epistle

For the Cross.

The reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts 26:1, 12 – 20

In those days, King Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: “I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining round me and those who journeyed with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.’ And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and bear witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from the people and from the Gentiles — to whom I send you to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ After that, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and perform deeds worthy of their repentance.” [RSV]

__________

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On May 7 we commemorate the Appearance of the Sign of the Precious Cross in the sky, during the reign of the Emperor Constantius, son of Saint Constantine the Great, when Cyril was Archbishop of Jerusalem.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyr Akakios.

On this day we also commemorate the contest of the holy Martyr Quadratus and those with him.

On this day we also commemorate our devout Father John Psychaites, the Confessor.

On this day we also commemorate the contest of the holy Martyr Maximus.

By their holy intercessions, O God, have mercy on us. Amen.

__________

Fasting Rule

Wine: Wine and oil are allowed. Refrain from meat, fish, dairy, and eggs.