Sunday September 21, 2025 / September 8, 2025
15th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone six.
Sunday before the Universal Elevation of the Precious and Life-Creating Cross of the Lord
Synaxis of New Martyrs and Confessors of Kazakhstan (movable holiday on the Sunday after September 3rd).
Synaxis of All Saints of Altai (movable holiday on the Sunday after September 7th).
The Nativity of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary.
New Martyr Demetrius, priest (1937).
St. Ioane (Maisuradze) (1957) and St. Giorgi-Ioane (Mkheidze), (1960), confessors, of Georgia (Georgia).
New Martyr Alexander Jacobson at Solovki (1930).
Icon of Sophia, the Wisdom of God (Kiev).
Venerable Icons of the Nativity of Most Holy Mother of God Syamsk (1524), Glinsk (16th C), Lukianovsk (16th C), Isaacovsk (1659), Kholmsk, Kursk “Sign” Icon (1259), Pochaev (1559), Lesninsk, Domnitsk (1696).
Venerable Serapion, monk, of Spaso-Eleazar Monastery (Pskov) (1480).
Venerable Lucian, abbot of Alexandrov (1654).
Venerable Arsenius, abbot of Konevits (1447).
King Ina of Wessex and Queen Ethelburga (8th c.) (Celtic & British).
New Martyr Athanasius of Thessalonica (1774) (Greek).
St. Sophronius of Achtalea in Georgia, bishop (1803) (Greek).
Martyrs Rufus and Rufianus (Greek)
Martyrs Severus and Artemidorus (Greek)
St. Kinemark, disciple of St. Dyfrig.
Translation of the relics of St. Grimald, abbot of Winchester.
The Scripture Readings
2 Corinthians 4:6-15 (Epistle)
6
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
8
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-
10
always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11
For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12
So then death is working in us, but life in you.
13
And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,
14
knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.
15
For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
35
Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying,
36
Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?
37
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
38
This is the first and great commandment.
39
And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
40
On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.
41
While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
42
saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.”
43
He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:
44
The LORD said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”‘?
45
If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?
46
And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.
Luke 1:39-49, 56 Matins Gospel
39
Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah,
40
and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
41
And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42
Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
43
But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44
For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
45
Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.
46
And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
47
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
49
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.
56
And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.
Philippians 2:5-11 Theotokos
5
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
6
who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
7
but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
8
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
9
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
10
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
11
and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28 Theotokos
38
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.
39
And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.
40
But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
41
And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
42
But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.
27
And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!”
28
But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Galatians 6:11-18 Sunday before the Universal Elevation
11
See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!
12
As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ.
13
For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
14
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
15
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
16
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
17
From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
18
Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
John 3:13-17 Sunday before the Universal Elevation
3
No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
14
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.