2026

On Friday | July 31

----------

The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Friday of the 9th Week

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

1 Cor. 14:26 – 40

Brethren, when you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each one of them keep silence in church and speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another by sitting by, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged; and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. But God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. What! Did the word of God originate with you, or are you the only one it has reached? If any one thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that what I am writing to you are commands of the Lord. But if any one is ignorant, let him be ignorant. So, my brethren, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues; but all things should be done decently and in order. [RSV]

The Gospel

Friday of the 9th Week of Matthew

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 21:12 – 14, 17 – 20

At that time, Jesus entered the temple of God and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you make it a den of robbers.” And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there. In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the wayside he went to it, and found nothing on it but leaves only. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at once. When the disciples saw it they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither at once?” [RSV]

__________

The Readings for the Commemoration

The Epistle

For the Saint.

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

Rom. 8:14 – 21

Brethren, all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. [RSV]

The Gospel

For the Saint.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 8:16 – 21

The Lord said, “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hid that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light. Take heed then how you hear; for to him who has will more be given, and from him who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.” Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him for the crowd. And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” But he said to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” [RSV]

__________

Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On July 31, we commemorate Saint Evdokimos the righteous.

On this day Saint Joseph of Aremathea, who buried Christ the Master, reposed in peace.

On this day twelve holy Martyrs of Rome died by the sword.

On this day we commemorate the consecration of the venerable house of our most holy Lady Theotokos, which is in Blachernae, and where her holy Shrine is located.

Also, it is the forefeast of the precious and life-giving Cross, namely when it is brought out of the imperial Palace into the city.

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

__________

Fasting Rule

Strict: Refrain from meat, fish, oil, dairy, and eggs.

It is a Wednesday or Friday.