2026

On Wednesday | September 30

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The Readings from the Regular Cycle

The Epistle

Wednesday of the 18th Week

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

Eph. 5:25 – 33

Brethren, husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as the Lord does the church, because we are members of his body, of his flesh and of his bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is a great one, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church; however, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. [RSV]

The Gospel

Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Luke

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Luke.

Lk. 5:33 – 39

At that time, Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Why do the disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?” And Jesus said to them, “Can you make wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.” He told them a parable also: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it upon an old garment; if he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’” [RSV]

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The Readings for the Commemoration

The Epistle

For the Hieromartyr.

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

1 Cor. 16:13 – 24

Brethren, be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints; I urge you to be subject to such men and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence; for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men. The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brethren send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If any one has no love for the Lord, let him be anathema. Maranatha! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. [RSV]

The Gospel

For the Hieromartyr.

The reading is from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Mt. 24:42 – 47

The Lord said, “Watch, for you do not know at what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the householder had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.” [RSV]

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Stand for the reading of the Synaxarion.

Synaxarion

From the Menaion.

On September 30, we commemorate the holy hieromartyr Gregory of Greater Armenia.

On this day we commemorate the holy women martyrs Rhipsime, Gaiana and another 32 monastic women martyrs and virgins.

On this day we commemorate the holy 70 martyrs who we killed along with St. Rhipsime; and commemoration of two other devout women.

On this day we commemorate the holy martyr Stratonicus.

On this day the holy martyr Mardonius died when live coals were place on his navel.

On this day the holy 1,000 martyrs died by the sword.

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 a Wednesday or Friday.