2026

On Friday | August 7

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Friday of the 10th Week

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

2 Cor. 1:12 – 20

Brethren, our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience that we have behaved in the world, and still more toward you, with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God. For we write you nothing but what you can read and understand; I hope you will understand fully, as you have understood in part, that you can be proud of us as we can be of you, on the day of the Lord Jesus. Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a double favor; I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea. Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say Yes and No at once? For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we preached among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No; but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why we utter the Amen through him, to the glory of God. [RSV]

The Gospel

Friday of the 10th Week of Matthew

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 22:23 – 33

At that time, Sadducees, who say that there is no resurrection, came to Jesus; and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, having no children, his brother must marry the widow, and raise up children for his brother.’ Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married, and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother. So too the second and third, down to the seventh. After them all, the woman died. In the resurrection, therefore, to which of the seven will she be wife? For they all had her.” But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’ He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching. [RSV]

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The Readings for the Commemoration

The Epistle

For the Martyr.

The reading is from Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy.

2 Tim. 1:8 – 18

Timothy, my son, do not be ashamed of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, and therefore I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, and among them Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me; he was not ashamed of my chains, but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me eagerly and found me — may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day — and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus. [RSV]

The Gospel

Post-festal.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Mark.

Mk. 9:2 – 9

At that time, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves; and he was transfigured before them, and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were exceedingly afraid. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around they no longer saw any one with them but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of man should have risen from the dead. [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On August 7, we commemorate the devout Martyr Dometius the Persian.

On this day, devout St. Or died in peace.

On this day the devout Theban ascetics died in peace.

On this day the devout woman Potamia the Wonderworker died by the sword.

On this day St. Narcissus, Archbishop of Jerusalem, reposed in peace.

On this day devout St. Asterius the Wonderworker died by the sword.

On this day Saint Sozon of Nicomedia died in peace after he was thrown into fire and came out uninjured.

On this day Saint Hyperechius died in peace.

On this day we commemorate the perfect help which Christ our true God granted us, beyond all hope and reason, against our godless enemies who had surrounded us on every side by land and sea, which help came when our all-holy and immaculate Lady Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, who without seed gave birth to Him, interceded for the salvation of the God-protected imperial City [of Constantinople].

On this day the devout healer Theodosius the New died in peace.

On this day devout St. Dometius, the worker of signs, who lived as an ascetic in the area of Philotheou Monastery [on Mt. Athos] died in peace.

On this day devout St. Nicanor, who was illustrious on Mt. Callistratus, died in peace.

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

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Fasting Rule

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

It is the Dormition fast.