2025

On Thursday | September 4

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Thursday of the 13th Week

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

2 Cor. 10:7 – 18

Brethren, if any one is confident that he is Christ’s, let him remind himself that as he is Christ’s, so are we. For even if I boast a little too much of our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I shall not be put to shame. I would not seem to be frightening you with letters. For they say, “His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.” Let such people understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. Not that we venture to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. But we will not boast beyond limit, but will keep to the limits God has apportioned us, to reach even to you. For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we did not reach you; we were the first to come all the way to you with the gospel of Christ. We do not boast beyond limit, in other men’s labors; but our hope is that you may be greatly enlarged, so that we may preach the gospel in lands beyond you, without boasting of work already done in another’s field. “Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord.” For it is not the man who commends himself that is accepted, but the man whom the Lord commends. [RSV]

The Gospel

Thursday of the 13th Week of Matthew

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark.

Mk. 3:28 – 35

The Lord said, “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin,” for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” And his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother.” [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

Fast Free: All foods allowed.