Sunday September 28, 2025 / September 15, 2025
16th Sunday after Pentecost. Tone seven.
Sunday after the Universal Elevation of the Precious and Life-Creating Cross of the Lord
Great-martyr Nicetas the Goth (372).
New Hieromartyr John priest and Virgin-martyr Eudocia (1918).
New Hieromartyrs Andrew, Gregory, Gregory, John priests (1921).
Venerable Ignatius confessor (1932).
New Hieromartyr Demetrius priest (1935).
New Hieromartyrs John, Jacob, Peter priests and Nicholas deacon, Martyrs Mary and Ludmila (1937).
Uncovering of the relics of St. Acacius the Confessor, bishop of Melitene (257).
Martyrs Theodotus, Asclepiodotus, and Maximus of Adrianopolis (305-311).
Martyr Porphyrius the Mime of Caesaria (361).
Uncovering of the relics of the Holy Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen (415).
Venerable Philotheus the Presbyter of Asia Minor (10th c.).
St. Joseph, abbot, of Alaverdi in Georgia (570) (Georgia).
“Novoniketas” Icon of the Mother of God (372).
St. Symeon, archbishop of Thessalonica (1430).
Sts. Bessarion I and Bessarion II (1540), metropolitans of Larissa (Greek).
New Martyr John of Crete (1811) (Greek).
Venerable Gerasimus, abbot, of Sourvia (1740).
St. Joseph the New of Partos, metropolitan of Timisoara (1656) (Romania).
St. Mirin, abbot of Paisley.
The Scripture Readings
Luke 24:12-35 (5th Matins Gospel)
12
But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.
13
Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.
14
And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15
So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.
16
But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
17
And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?”
18
Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”
19
And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
20
and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.
21
But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.
22
Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.
23
When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.
24
And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.
25
Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
26
Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?
27
And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
28
Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther.
29
But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.
30
Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.
31
Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
32
And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”
33
So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,
34
saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”
35
And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.
1
We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2
For He says: In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
3
We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.
4
But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
5
in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
6
by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
7
by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8
by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
9
as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed;
10
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
14
For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.
15
And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.
16
Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
17
And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.
18
But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.
19
After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20
So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’
21
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
22
He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’
23
His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24
Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.
25
And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.
26
But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.
27
So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.
28
Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29
For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.
30
And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
2 Timothy 2:1-10 Great-martyr Nicetas
1
You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2
And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
3
You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4
No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
5
And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
6
The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.
7
Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
8
Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel,
9
for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.
10
Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Matthew 10:16-22 Great-martyr Nicetas
16
Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.
17
But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.
18
You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
19
But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak;
20
for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21
Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
22
And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
Galatians 2:16-20 Sunday after the Universal Elevation
16
knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
17
But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!
18
For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.
19
For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God.
20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Mark 8:34-9:1 Sunday after the Universal Elevation
34
When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
35
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.
36
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
37
Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
38
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
1
And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”