2026

On Tuesday | July 14

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Tuesday of the 7th Week

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

1 Cor. 6:20; 7:1 – 12

Brethren, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. Now concerning the matters about which you wrote. It is well for a man not to touch a woman. But because of the temptation to immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not rule over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not rule over his own body, but the wife does. Do not refuse one another except perhaps by agreement for a season, that you may devote yourselves to fasting and prayer; but then come together again, lest Satan tempt you through lack of self-control. I say this by way of concession not of command. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own special gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain single as I do. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion. To the married I give charge, not I but the Lord, that the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, let her remain single or else be reconciled to her husband) — and that the husband should not divorce the wife. To the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. [RSV]

The Gospel

Tuesday of the 7th Week of Matthew

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 14:1 – 13

At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus; and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him.” For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison, for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; because John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” And the king was sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given; he sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. And his disciples came and took the body and buried it; and they went and told Jesus. Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. [RSV]

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The Readings for the Commemoration

Memory of the Holy Apostle Aquila

The Epistle

For the Apostle.

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

1 Cor. 4:9 – 16

Brethren, God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off-scouring of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On July 14, we commemorate the holy Apostle Aquila.

On this day we also commemorate the holy Martyr Justus.

On this day we also commemorate our devout Father Onesimus the Wonderworker.

On this day we also commemorate our Father among the Saints Joseph, Archbishop of Thessalonica.

The holy Martyrs Aquila and Hilary died by stoning.

The holy Martyr Peter the New died after his feet were cut off.

The holy Martyr Heraclius died after he was beaten with clubs.

On this day we also commemorate our devout Father Nikodemus of the Holy Mountain.

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

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Fasting Rule

Fast Free: All foods allowed.