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2025 |
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On Saturday | September 20 |
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The Epistle |
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Saturday After the Elevation of the Cross |
The reading is from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. |
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1 Cor. 1:26 – 31; 2:1 – 5 |
Brethren, consider your call; not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth; but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption; therefore, as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.” When I came to you, brethren, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in much fear and trembling; and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. [RSV] |
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The Gospel |
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Saturday After the Elevation of the Cross |
The reading is from the holy Gospel according to John. |
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Jn. 8:21 – 30 |
The Lord said to the Jews who came to him, “I go away, and you will seek me and die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come.” Then said the Jews, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you can not come’?” He said to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.” They said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Even what I have told you from the beginning. I have much to say about you and much to judge; but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” They did not understand that he spoke to them of the Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus as my Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me; the Father has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.” As he spoke thus, many believed in him. [RSV] |
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The Readings from the Regular Cycle |
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The Epistle |
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Saturday of the 15th Week |
The reading is from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. |
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1 Cor. 4:17 – 21;5:1 – 5 |
Brethren, therefore I sent to you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness? It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and of a kind that is not found even among pagans; for a man is living with his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body I am present in spirit, and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment in the name of the Lord Jesus on the man who has done such a thing. When you are assembled, and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. [RSV] |
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The Gospel |
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Saturday of the 15th Week of Matthew |
The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew. |
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Mt. 24:1 – 13 |
At that time, Jesus’ disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another, that will not be thrown down.” As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “Take heed that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying ‘I am the Messiah, and they will lead many astray.’ And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth-pangs. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will stumble, and betray one another, and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because wickedness is multiplied, most men’s love will grow cold. But he who endures to the end will be saved.” [RSV] |
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The Readings for the Commemoration |
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The Epistle |
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For the Martyrs. |
The reading is from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. |
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Eph. 6:10 – 17 |
Brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; with all of these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. [RSV] |
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The Gospel |
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For the Martyrs. |
The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke. |
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Lk. 21:12 – 19 |
The Lord said to his disciples, “Beware of men; for they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be a time for you to bear testimony. Settle it therefore in your minds, not to meditate beforehand how to answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends, and some of you they will put to death; you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.” [RSV] |
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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion. |
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Synaxarion |
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From the Menaion. |
On September 20, we commemorate the holy Great-martyr Eustathius, and his wife Theopisti, and their two sons Agapius and Theopistus. |
On this day we commemorate our holy fathers Hypatius the bishop and Andrew the presbyter, the Confessors. |
On this day we commemorate the Saints Martin Pope of Rome, Maximus, and those with them. |
On this day we commemorate the holy martyrs Artemidorus and Thales. |
On this day we commemorate our devout Father Meletius, bishop of Cyprus. |
We also commemorate John the Egyptian, the great Confessor. |
The new monastic martyr Hilarion the Cretan witnessed in Constantinople in the year 1804 and died by the sword. |
By the intercessions of Your Saints, O God, have mercy on us. Amen. |
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Fasting Rule |
Fast Free: All foods allowed. |