2026

April 30

Memory of the Holy Apostle Iakovos (James), the Brother of John the Theologian

The Readings from Vespers the Previous Evening

2026

On Thursday | April 30

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Thursday of the 3rd Week

The reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts 8:26 – 39

In those days, an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert road. And he rose and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a minister of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless some one guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this: “As a sheep led to the slaughter or a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken up from the earth.” And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, pray, does the prophet say this, about himself or about some one else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told him the good news of Jesus. And as they went along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What is to prevent my being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. [RSV]

The Gospel

Thursday of the 3rd Week

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to John.

Jn. 6:40 – 44

The Lord said to the Jews who came to him, “This is the will of him who sent me, that every one who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” [RSV]

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The Readings for the Commemoration

Memory of the Holy Apostle Iakovos (James), the Brother of John the Theologian

The Epistle

For the Apostle.

The reading is from the Acts of the Apostles.

Acts 12:1 – 11

About that time, Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword; and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison; but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the Church. The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison; and behold, an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, “Wrap your mantle around you and follow me.” And he went out and followed him; he did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to them of its own accord, and they went out and passed on through one street; and immediately the angel left him. And Peter came to himself, and said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” [RSV]

The Gospel

For the Apostle.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 9:1 – 6

At that time, Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal. And he said to them, “Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere. [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On April 30 we commemorate the holy and glorious Apostle James, the brother of St. John the Theologian.

On this day we also commemorate our devout father Clement the ecclesiastical poet.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyr Maximus.

On this day we also commemorate the finding of the relics of the holy Hieromartyr Vasilefs, Bishop of Amasia.

On this day we also commemorate our father among the saints Donatus, Bishop of Euroia.

On this day the holy Neo-martyr Argyri, who confessed Christ in Constantinople and was tortured for it, died in prison in the year 1725.

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

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Fasting Rule

Fast Free: All foods allowed.