2025

On Saturday | August 9

----------

The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Saturday of the 9th Week

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

Rom. 14:6 – 9

Brethren, he who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord, and gives thanks to God. None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. [RSV]

The Gospel

Saturday of the 9th Week of Matthew

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 15:32 – 39

At that time, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days, and have nothing to eat; and I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” And the disciples said to him, “Where are we to get bread enough in the desert to feed so great a crowd?” And Jesus said to them, “How many loaves have you?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” And commanding the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied; and they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. And sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magdala. [RSV]

__________

The Readings for the Commemoration

The Epistle

For the Apostle.

The reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts 1:12 – 17, 1:21 – 26

In those days, the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away; and when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the brethren (the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty), and said, “Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us, and was allotted his share in this ministry. So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us-one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was enrolled with the eleven apostles. [RSV]

The Gospel

For the Apostle.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 10:16 – 21

The Lord said to his disciples, “He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” In that same hour he rejoiced in the spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing before you.” [RSV]

__________

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On August 9 we commemorate the holy Apostle Matthias.

On this day we also commemorate the holy 10 Martyrs who contested for the holy Icon of our Savior Jesus Christ at the Brass Gate: Julian, Marcian, John, Jacob, Alexios, Demetrios, Photios, Peter, Leo, and Maria the Patrician.

On this day we also commemorate the contest of the holy Martyr Antoninus (or Anthony.)

Our devout father Psoes reposed in prayer.

On this day we also commemorate the finding of the venerable Icon of Koumoulianon, not made by hands; this event was recorded by St. Gregory Bishop of Nyssa.

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

__________

Fasting Rule

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

It is the Dormition fast.